Abstract

EVALUATION ON PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF THE ROOT OF OPERCULINA TURPETHUM (LINN.) SILVA MANSO

Neenu A. Santhosh* and Varghese C. D.

ABSTRACT

Operculina turpethum(Linn.) Silva Manso is an excellent plant having medicinal property for treating constipation and urinary disorders. The roots of the plant have antiulcer and hepatic stimulant activity. Phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activities were traced in present investigation. Using Soxhlet apparatus, the dried root of the plant were extracted with methanol and also water extract were taken. Methanol and water extracts were tested qualitatively for phytoconstituents. These extracts showed the presence of resins, tannins, saponins, phytosterols, lactones, glycosides, anthraquinones and flavonoids. Antioxidant was assayed by DPPH radical scavenging activity and the plant showed significant antioxidant potential. These extracts were further tested for antibacterial activity against bacterial strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. These bacterial strains are sensitive to the plant extracts. Hence the results validate the role of Operculina turpethum in allopathic medicine due to the presence of many different secondary metabolites, antioxidant property and antibacterial efficacy.

Keywords: Antioxidant, anti-ulcer, secondary metabolites, phytoconstituents and antibacterial.