EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PROTEASE CHARACTERIZATION FROM LATEX OF PLUMERIA ALBA, EUPHORBIA GRANTII AND CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA

Latex-bearing plants represent a rich source of bioactive compounds with significant medicinal value with wound healing property, antimicrobial activity, antiinflammatory and anticancer activity. The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity, protease characterization and antimicrobial activity of latex extracts of Plumeria alba, Euphorbia grantii and Calotropis gigantea. Phytochemical analysis revealed that Calotropis gigantea latex contained the highest phenolic content, while Plumeria alba showed maximum protein and carbohydrate content. Antioxidant assays such as DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, particularly in Calotropis gigantea latex. Antimicrobial screening against Staphylococcus aureus using agar well diffusion method showed the highest zone of inhibition for Calotropis gigantea. Protease activity was maximum for Euphorbia grantii with optimal pH 8, with temperature optima of 40°C for Plumeria alba and Euphorbia grantii and 60°C for Calotropis gigantea. These findings support the traditional medicinal use of plant latex and suggest its potential application in pharmaceutical and industrial fields.