Abstract

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE LEAVES OF NEOLAMARCKIA CADAMBA

Dr. Venu Sampath Kumar Golla, D. Aruna Kumari, K. Fathima Nilesh* and Ch. S. Phani Kumar

Abstract

Natural compounds can be a lead compounds, allowing the design and rational planning of new drugs, biomimetic synthesis development and the discovery of new therapeutic properties not yet attributed to known compounds (S.M.K. Rates, 2011). The present study has made an attempt to evaluate the microscopic characters of Neolamarckia cadamba by determining leaf constants, trichomes and stomata, Phytochemical screening by using Qualitative chemical tests & column chromatography. The study includes biological evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal activity. Phytochemical screening of the crude methanolic extract of the leaves of Neolamarckia cadamba showed the presence of Alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Steroids and Glycosides. In Biological Evaluation, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts (50, 75, 100 μg/ml) of Neolamarckia cadamba were tested against Gram-positive— Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative—Escherichia coli. Zone of inhibition of extracts were compared with that of standards like Amikacin for antibacterial activity and fluconazole for antifungal activity Post hoc analysis showed the remarkable inhibition of the bacterial growth was shown against the anti-bacterial organisms and a minute inhibition for anti-fungal organism.

Keywords: Neolamarckia cadamba, Anti-bacterial activity, Anti-fungal activity, Methanolic Extract, Column Chromatography.