Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate biological potential of methanol and n-hexane extracts of aerial parts in seven species of family Poaceae.METHODS: Qualitative phytochemical tests were done by using standard protocols. In vitro antioxidant activity was performed via different assays and antimicrobial potential was observed via disc diffusion method. Cytotoxic activity was carried out using brine shrimps' assay.RESULTS: Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols,steroids, saponins, tannins, anthocyanins and coumarins in most of the plant extracts. Maximum antioxidant and antimicrobial potential were observed in Cymbopogon citratus methanol extract and Cymbopogon citratus n-hexane extract along with significant number of total flavonoids and phenols contents. However, Polypogon monspeliensis methanol extract and Polypogon monspeliensis n-hexane extract showed minimum antioxidant as well as antimicrobial potential. Moreover, methanol extracts showed a cytotoxic effect with their effectiveness ranked Polypogon monspeliensis methanol extract > Cymbopogon citratus methanol extract > Phalaris minor n-hexane extract > Aristida funiculata methanol extract > Stipagrostis plumosa methanol extract > Cenchrus ciliaris methanol extract > Panicum antidotale methanol extract. Similarly, n-hexane plant extracts revealed cytotoxic activity in decreasing order Cenchrus ciliaris n-hexane extract > Stipagrostis plumosa n-hexane extract > Phalaris minor n-hexane extract > Aristida funiculata n-hexane extract > Polypogon monspeliensis n-hexane extract > Panicum antidotale n-hexane extract > Cymbopogon citratus n-hexane extract respectively.CONCLUSION: Methanol extracts exhibit significant antioxidant and antimicrobial potential which can be correlated to their medicinal values. The observed brine shrimp's lethality of the plant extracts revealed the presence of potent cytotoxic components in these plants.

Key words: Poaceae, Methanol, n-Hexane, Anti-infective agents, Antioxidants, Cytotoxins