Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS LEAF EXTRACTS OF CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS

Soumya J. D.*, Justin Raj and Saranya J.

ABSTRACT

Background: The development of resistance to current antibiotics by disease causing microbes has reinforced research for discovery of new ones. Current trends in drug development process are focused on natural sources, especially sources of plant origin due to some proven correlation between the folkloric medicinal uses of some of these plants. The present study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Cassia occidentalis collected from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Objective: The collected plant was subjected to screen antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic microbes. Leaf extracts of Cassia occidentalis was prepared using water, ethyl acetate, hexane, methanol and petroleum ether. Materials and methods: The antimicrobial activity was carried out by disc diffusion method. Results: Antimicrobial activity of aqueous leaf extract of Cassia occidentalis showed highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus (1.4cm) and Candida fumigates (2.2cm). In the present study it was concluded that Cassia occidentalis is a source of pharmaceutical important compounds used for the treatment of human pathogenic diseases.

Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, Disc diffusion method, Antimicrobial activity.