Research Article
Ramamurthy V, Nethaji S ,Rajak
Abstract
Ethanol extracts of Heliotropium indicum was used traditionally in India for the treatment of skin diseases. The present study was investigated for in vitro antimicrobial activity against human pathogens namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas auroginosa, Klebsiella pnemonia, Aspergillus níger, Trichoderma viride and Candida albicans using the well diffusion method. The results relevant that the leaf extract possessed the highest inhibitory activity against both bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus in 22 mm) and fungi (Candida albicans in 24 mm). Among the leaf extracts H. indicum possess the highest inhibitory activity then the root extracts. Phytochemical analysis of all the extracts revealed that the antimicrobial activity of the plant material is due to the presence of antimicrobial compounds. The ethanolic extract of the medicinal plant H. indicum have been investigated by GC-MS to identify compounds responsible for its therapeutical properties. Two kinds of extracts of plant were investigated. The tincture was prepared by mixing all parts of the plant (roots and leaves) with a 50% alcoholic solution for 30 days. These two extraction methods were compared for extraction of the active therapeutic compounds of H. indicum. In parallel, another study was performed to identify the distribution and the concentration of the active compounds in the roots and leaves of this plant. For this purpose we have prepared alcoholic extracts from each part of the plant and we have studied them separately.