Advances in Life Science and Technology www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol.18, 2014 65 Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and antimicrobial activity of two medicinal plants from Sulaimani City, Iraqi Kurdistan Region Dalia A.Abdul* , Srwa N.Majeed*, Baram H.Ameen* *Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Faculty of Science& Science education, University of Sulaimani, ,P.O Box 334 Sulaimani city,Kurdistan reagion,Iraq E-mail:dalyadya@yahoo.com ,sirwa majeed@yahoo.com, barmjaff@yahoo.com, Abstract Malabar spinach fruit with dark blue skin and deep red violet flesh is a potential source of natural colorant. Nasturtium officinal (watercress) of family Brassica ceae has been long used as a home remedy or a medical plant by the people Iraq- Sulaimaini City .The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant , antimicrobial activity of Malabar spinach &Nasturtium official (water cress) extracts using various in vitro assay systems including ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP),1,1-dipheny-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azinobis -3- ethylbenzothiozoline sulphonate (ABTS ).Antibacterial activity were tested against five gram-positive ,three gram –negative bacteria and two fungi by disc diffusion method for different extract and determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)values . Total phenolic content was determined by folin ciocalteu reagent for the extract (mg Gallic acid /g extract ). From the result highest total phenol content was shown by Malabar spinach & Nastartium officinale in methanol extracts. Elemental analysis have been done element by inductive couple plasma (ICP) techniques for each this two medicinal plants high amount of Na ,K Ca, Mn ,Zn ,Mg, Fe, Cu ,and se elements have been detected in ppb. Key words: Malabar spinach , Nasturtium officinal, antioxidant , antimicrobial ,phenolics Introduction Malabar spinach fig(2) it is also Knowing as Basella alba is a fast-growing ,soft stemmed vine ,reaching 10 meter (33ft) in length .Its thick ,Semi-Succulent ,heart-Shaped leaves have a mild flavor and mucilaginous texture. The stem of the cultivar basella alba ((Rubra)) is reddish-purple (Jump,2012).The fruit of Malabar Spinach is fleshy ,stalk less, avoid or spherical 5- 6mmlong and purple when mature it is also a good source of vitamins and minerals(Elina,2007 ) it is it is belongs to the Basell cease family , commonly found in the home gardens of many south Asian families (Ali,1964). Nasturtium officincle (watercress) fig(1) of the family Brassica ceae (Ali,1964 ) is a fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plant native to Europe and Asia, and one of the oldest knownleaf vegetables consumed by humans. It is a member of the family Brassicaceae, botanically related to garden cress, mustard and radish all noteworthy for a peppery, tangy flavour. The hollow stems of watercress are floating, and the leaves are pinnately compound. Small, white and green flowers are produced in clusters. If unharvested, watercress can grow to a height of 50–120cm (1.6–3.9 ft). Like many plants in this family, the foliage of watercress becomes bitter when the plants begin producing flowers. Alocal name of Malabarspinach &Nasturtium officinale (watercress) in Kurdish are( spenakh), (kuzala). The free radicals produced the cell are responsible for oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to the development of a wide range of disease including Alzheimers diseases, Parkinson’s disease, pathologies caused by diabetes rheumatoid arthritis and neurodegradationin motor neuron disease. A class of molecules called antioxidants inhibits the formation of these free radicals by removing their intermediates(Radimerk,2004), while there are many foods contribute the overall health and gloving wellness, foods that contain antioxidants have a special ability to actually protect the body from the formation of free radicals. free radicals are the toxic off-shoots of many of the metabolic processes that go on the body on an every-day basis, studies show that antioxidant rich food can actually help to increase our life-span, as well as slow the signs of aging(Halli,2007) Natsturtium officinal(watercress)is used to cure abdominal pain and is eaten as a vegetable) and in salads in Iraq-Kurdistan region-Sulaimani City .This herbis used to treat diabetes, bronchitis and dieresis (Miraldi,2001)as anti- ulcerogenic (lkofahi,1999), in treatment of scurvy, tuberculosis ,influenza, asthma (Duke,1992) nutritional supplement and digestive aid(Sezik,2001) The frequency of life -threatening infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms has increased world wide and is becoming an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immune compromised patients developed countries (Al Bari,2006) , There is an urgent need to control antimicrobial resistance by improved antibiotic usage and reduction of hospital cross infection (French L,2005)) in developing countries the world health