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Averrhoa bilimbi fruit has been studied to find out a possible source of bioactive compounds against antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. To achieve this goal, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of five different fractionates such as methanolic crude, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water fraction of A. bilimbi were investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometry, disc diffusion and brine shrimp lethality test methods simultaneously. Other phytochemicals viz. carbohydrate, tannins, polyphenols, glycosides, etc. were also screened out by conventional test methods concurrently. Total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents were found to be ranging from 3.807-262.129 mg GAE g–1 and 67.848-1159.061 mg CE g–1, respectively, in all the analyzed fractions. DPPH free radical scavenging activity revealed distinctive IC50 value of 5.63 and 10.26 μg mL–1 in the chloroform and ethyl acetate extractives. Fractionates of petroleum ether and methanolic crude also presented strong cytotoxic potential with the LD50 values of 8.89 and 20.3 μg mL–1 in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay test. Petroleum ether and ethyl acetate fractions exhibited good antimicrobial activity with the zone of inhibition against Bacillus cereus (11 mm and 14 mm) and Escherichia coli (7 mm and 9 mm). Finally, it has been recommended that A. bilmbi fruit might be an effective source of bioactive compounds against antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity as well as antioxidant with potent radical scavenging activity.

In present study, a quantitative evaluation of macro and micronutrients in Averrhoa bilimbi, Mimusops elengi and Carissa carandas tropical fruits have been presented. Concentration of the nutrients namely calcium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, zinc and two toxic heavy metals cadmium and lead present in the fruits are used as traditional folk medicines in Bangladesh were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometric method. The concentration of the elements for Averrhoa bilimbi was found to be followed by the order as: Ca (1.98 ppm) > Fe (0.515) > Zn (0.080) > Mn (0.038) > Cr (0.006) > Pb (0.004) > Ni (0.0016) > and Cd (0.0015 ppm), respectively. The order for that of Mimusops elengi was found to be as: Ca (3.175 ppm) > Fe (0.784) > Zn (0.049) > Mn (0.038) > Pb (0.008) > Ni (0.008) > Cd (0.003) > Cr (0.001 ppm) and the same issue for the Carissa carandas was found to be Ca (4.277 ppm) > Fe (0.676) > Zn (0.040) > Mn (0.040) > Pb (0.005) > Ni (0.004) > Cr (0.002) > Cd (0.0009 ppm), respectively. From the obtained results, the analyzed fruits might be an admirable natural source of nutrients Ca, Fe and Zn. Concentration of toxic elements Pb and Cd found to be of very few ppb levels and should not be considered as toxic in consumption by human beings.