Original Articles
Pratap Chandran R., Ahlen Ig B
Abstract
Hyptis suaveolens L. Poit., is an aromatic herb which is reported to have high medicinal value. This plant is widely seen in Kerala, India. In the present study the fluorescence analysis was performed and the plant powder was found pure. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, flavanoids etc. in chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts. Disc diffusion method was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of H. suaveolens leaf against six bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and five fungal strains (Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium expansum, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger). Methanolic extract showed the highest and consistent inhibition with an inhibition zone of 30 mm against K. pneumonia, 25 mm against B. cereus and 12 mm against P. aeruginosa. The aqueous extract showed the highest antifungal activity with an inhibition zone of 31 mm against F. oxysporum. Disinfectant property (as a floor cleaning agent) of fresh aqueous leaf extract of H. suaveolens was tested and an initial bacterial count of 435 colony forming units (CFU) was observed from the floor before the application of extract. Five minutes after the extract application, the bacterial count was decreased from 435 to 3 colony forming units