Abstract

PRILIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ANALYSIS OF CAESALPINIA PULCHERRIMA

Sasi Premila J. M.* and Sreeja N.

Abstract

Plants are known to produce antimicrobial agents as their defense mechanism; they can be considered as potential sources of new antibacterial agents. In the present study, phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial and the antioxidant activities of leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima were investigated. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids in ethanol extract. The antimicrobial activity of ethanol, methanol, acetone and petroleum ether extracts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima was evaluated using disc diffusion method. Among the different extracts, the ethanol extract showed significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The obtained results suggested that the ethanol extract of the leaves of C. pulcherrima possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties which can be used for the discovery of new bioactive natural products.

Keywords: Phytochemical screening, antioxidant, antimicrobial agents.