Original Articles
Deepa T, Kamalakannan P, Elama
Abstract
The phytochemical analysis of both the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the medicinal plant Aristolochia bracteata Retz. and their antibacterial and antifungal activities against six pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Leuconostoc lactis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi as well as four fungus namely Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus indicus and Mucor indicus were investigated. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, tannins, phenols, fixed oils & fats, proteins and flavonoids in varying concentration. Antibacterial potentiality of aqueous and methanol solvent extract of mature leaves of A. bracteata was evaluated against the bacteria, highest antibacterial activity was observed against Streptococcus pyogenes (42 mm) and followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38 mm) in methanol extract. But in the case of antifungal activity the maximum inhibition zone found against Rhizopus indicus (18) in methanol extract. There is no activity antibacterial and antifungal activity found in the aqueous extract.