PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF ALTERNANTHERA SESSILIS (L.) R.BR. EX DC AND ALTERNANTHERA PHILOXEROIDES (MART.) GRISEB
Dr. R. Sivakumar* and D. Sunmathi
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic leaf extracts of Alternanthera sessilis and Alternanthera philoxeroides. Method: Ethanol extracts of both the plants were evaluated against four gram positive bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96, Staphylococcus heamolyticus MTCC 3383, Enterococcus faecaalis MTCC 439, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 10619) and four gram negative bacterial species (Klebsiella pneumoniae MTCC 3384 , Escherichia coli MTCC 443 , Proteus vulgaris MTCC 1771 and Proteus mirabilis MTCC 442) and fungi (Candida albicans MTCC 227) using well diffusion method. Result: Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, aminoacids, carbohydrates, phenols, steroids, terpenoids, saponins and glycosides in both the plant extracts. The results of the study revealed that all the bacterial strains and fungi (Candida albicans) were more sensitive to A.sessilis than A.philoxeroides. The extracts were compared with standards like Gentamycin and Nystatin for antibacterial and antifungal activity respectively. The extracts showed remarkable inhibition of zone of bacterial and fungal growth and results were comparable with that of standard drugs against the organism tested. Conclusion: In conclusion, leaf extract of A.sessilis and A.philoxeroides showed significant antimicrobial activity. It may be due to the phytochemicals present in them.
Keywords: Alternanthera sessilis, Alternanthera philoxeroides leaves, antibacterial, antifungal, Gentamycin and Nystatin.
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