Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY AND GC- MS ANALYSIS OF BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS FROM LEPIDAGATHIS KERALENSIS (ACANTHACEAE)

Leena P.*, Zeinul Hukuman N.H. and Jisha M.

Abstract

Lepidagathis keralensis, a medicinal plant belonging to the family Acanthaceae is endemic to Kerala. The present study deals with the evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal activity of the petroleum ether extracts of the stem and leaves of the plant. The study also investigates the bioactive components responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the extracts. Antimicrobial studies were done by agar diffusion method. For antibacterial evaluation gram negative (Pseudomonas aeroginosa & Klebsiella pneumonia) and gram positive(Streptococcus mutans & Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains were used. The antifungal efficacy was tested against Candida albicans .Identification of bioactive compounds in the extracts were done by GC-MS analysis using Thermo Scientific Trace 1300 Gas chromatograph equipped with ISQ- QD Mass spectrometer. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 38 phytocomponents in the leaf extract and 20 components in the stem extract. n- Hexadecanoic acid(14.53%), 2-Decanynoic acid(16.71%), 1,6-Octadiene, 3,7-dimethyl- (20.34%) & 1,5-Heptadiene, 3,3-dimethyl-, (E)-(12.77%) were the major components in the leaf while Cyclopentaneundecanoic acid(25.06), Oxalic acid, allyl hexyl ester (10.41) ,1- Iodo-2-methylnonane (9.91) & n-Hexadecanoic acid(9.96%) were the major components in the stem. The analysis revealed the presence of several bioactive phytocomponents which could be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the extracts.

Keywords: Lepidagathis keralensis, antimicrobial, GC-MS, extract.