Abstract

ANTI BACTERIAL ACTIVITY AND IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL COMPOUNDS FROM THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THE MEDICINAL PLANT ARISAEMA LESCHENAULTII (BLUME)

S. Suresh*, G. Pradheesh, R. Manickavasakam and V. Alex Ramani

ABSTRACT

Arisaema leschenaultii (Blume) is an endemic medicinal plant found in Asia, Africa and America. It grows in semi shaded, moist areas of evergreen forest in hills, especially on shola floor 1200 – 2000m altitude. The whole plant was traditionally used in Ayurveda system of medicine for the treatment of urinary diseases, colitis, piles, hemorrhoids, fistula and sinus. The present work aimed at phytochemical screening, GC-MS study and anti bacterial activity of the secondary metabolites like alkaloids, trepenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and tannins. The phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract was carried out applying the standard methods and tests. It shows the presence of various metabolites like tannins, flavonoids, saponnins, steroids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, quinones, phenolic compounds and glycosides. GC-MS study has shown the existence of 20 compounds in the ethanolic extract. The extract inhibits the growth of gram positive and negative bacterial species. The investigation helps to isolate and characterize the secondary metabolites present in this medicinal plant Arisaema leschenaultii (Blume) which can be used as drugs. This result also enhances the traditional usage of Arisaema leschenaultii (Blume) which contains number of bioactive compounds.

Keywords: Arisaema leschenaultii (Blume), phytochemical screening, secondary metabolites, GC-MS analysis and antibacterial activity.