Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN PENNISETUM POLYSTACHION.L

Rizla Fathima K. P.*, Suresh M., Prabhu V. and Meenakshisundaram M.

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Abstract

This study examined the Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical assays conducted on P. polystachion revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, proteins, and carbohydrates in the ethanolic extracts of the selected plants. The extracts of P. purpureum were evaluated for antimicrobial activity using the disc diffusion method. The methanolic extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against Streptococcus species (14 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (13 mm), and Acinetobacter species (12 mm). The chemical composition of the aerial parts of Pennisetum polystachion was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS results identified 27 compounds, including glyceraldehyde, 3-hydroxy-2, 3-dihydromaltol, 4- vinylphenol, 1, 2, 3-propanetriol 1-acetate, 4H-pyran-4-one, and 2,3- dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl, as well as 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, among others. The findings indicate that P. purpureum contains phytochemicals that significantly contribute to the observed antimicrobial and antioxidant abilities of the plant, suggesting its potential as a source for the development of novel therapeutic drugs.

Keywords: Antimicrobial; Antioxidant; Pennisetum polystachion: Phytochemical and GC-MS Analysis.