Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND INVITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF Alstonia scholaris R.BR. FLOWERS AGAINST ENDODONTIC PATHOGENS.

Ramya Madhiri*, Vijayalakshmi G., Ganga Rao Battu, Padma Dorothy K. and Jagadeesh Panda

ABSTRACT

Phytochemical analyses of hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol extracts of Alstonic scholaris flower was done. All the four solvent extracts revealed the presence of anthocyanins, alkaloids, terpenoids and coumarins whereas hexane, ethylacetate and chloroform extracts revealed the presence of quinines and flavonoids. Phenols are found in only hexane and methanolic extracts. tested against the oral pathogens. Seven microorganisms, responsible for formation of plaque, caries and oral infections, namely Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Staphylococcus aureus,(Grampositive bacteria). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria) and Candida albicans (Fungi) have been selected to assess their susceptibility to various solvent extracts of the flowers. The antimicrobial potential of the extracts was assessed by zone of inhibition method and Resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) plate method. The zones of inhibition obtained for the test organisms ranged between 11- 17mm diameter with the extract concentration of 3mg/ml. These zones indicate that the growth of test organisms was inhibited and they are susceptible to the extracts employed. MIC value of 1mg/ml of the extracts inhibited 28-58% growth of test organisms. The results obtained indicate the antimicrobial potential of flower extracts of Alstonia scholaris.

Keywords: Alstonia scholaris, Agar well diffusion method, REMA, Bioautography. MIC.