CHARACTERISATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROFILE OF Phalaenopsis ORCHID WASTES.

Orchids are widely known for their economic importance, but less so from a medicinal point of view. This paper aims to provide information on the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of methanolic and ethanolic extracts obtained from orchid wastes of Phalaenopsis species, respectively dried leaves, stems and roots. Due to their high diversity, bioactive plant compounds are of particular interest. The antioxidant potential was studied by measuring the phenolics, the chlorophyll and carotenoids content; in addition, DPPH assay was used. Antimicrobial tests were done by spot method on different microorganisms (Staphylococcaceae, Bacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae family and Candida sp.). The results show a medium to high antioxidant potentila of Phalaenopsis wastes extracts (leaves and roots) and a promising inhibitory activity of leaves extracts against Staphylococcus aureus methicillin resistant and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Stem extracts had inhibitory activity of Bacillus cereus. This may open future possibilities of using Phalaenopsis wastes in pharmaco-cosmetic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]