HISTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PLANTS WITH ANOMALOUS SECONDARY STRUCTURES

Dr. C. Sathya, M. Vinothini and Dr. M. N. Abubacker*

ABSTRACT

Four anomalous secondary structure plants were selected [Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae), Bignonia suberosa Roxb. (Bignoniaceae), Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Nyctaginaceae) and Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Oleaceae)] and secondary metabolites like alkaloids, ascorbic acids, polyphenols tannins, and terepenoids were identified using histochemical methods. Stem hand sections were treated with respective reagents and the colour indication proved the presence of respective compounds. Alkaloid and ascorbic acid were present in all the four plants in higher concentration. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis have shown the presence of Terpenoid and Tannin also in higher concentration. Tannin is present in moderate concentration in A. aspera, B. suberosa and B. diffusa. Terpenoid present in lower concentration in A. aspera, B. suberosa and B. diffusa. Polyphenol is present only in A. aspera and found to be absent in other three plants. Antimicrobial screening was conducted using ethanolic leaf extracts of these plants. Two ml of leaf extracts were introduced into 10 ml of Nutrient Agar Medium. Clinical strains of bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pneumoniae were inoculated using streak plate method. A. aspera as well as B. diffusa leaf extract was effective for K. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae as total inhibition of growth in the culture plants. B. suberosa ineffective to all the four bacteria, whereas N. arbor-tristis is effective for P. vulgaris bacteria as total inhibition of growth was noticed.

Keywords: Anomalous secondary structure, Antibacterial activity, Histochemical methods, Secondary metabolites.