Abstract

ANTIBACTERIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS L. STEM EXTRACTS

N. Sharief Mohammad*, Mathewos Geneto, Dejene Deresh Abateneh, Mohammad Salahuddin, Mohammad Dilshad Manzar and Uma Maheswara Rao V.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the phytochemical and antibacterial activity of the stem infusions of Acanthus ilicifolius L. Methods: Qualitative determination of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins and total phenols in different solvent extracts was performed by the standard protocols. Antibacterial activity of all the extracts was screened against the selected strains by agar well diffusion method and compared with standard antibiotics gentamicin and tetracyclin. The minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] was determined by serial dilution method. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that the stem infusions were found to be positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins and total phenols. The inter-solvent differences were observed in the extent of inhibition by the stem extracts. Methanol and ethanol extracts exhibited higher level of inhibition for the gram positive than the gram negative test cultures employed. The value of MIC was found to be between 2-7mg/100 μl. Conclusion: Isolation and characterization of antibacterial bioactive principles from stem extracts of Acanthus ilicifolius was established.

Keywords: Acanthus ilicifolius, Secondary metabolites, Antibacterial activity, Minimum Inhibitory concentration.