PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA FLOWERS AGAINST HUMAN PATHOGENIC STRAINS

摘要

Ethanolic extract of flowers of Calotropis procera R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) shows antibacterial action against four Gram positive micro -organisms, (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilis, and Micrococcus lutes and Gram Negative micro-organism (Escherichia coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris). The antibacterial action of extract is compared with a standard drug (rifampicin, 50μg/ml) at various concentrations (5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 μg/ml).Before that preliminary phytochemical screening was performed by using a standard chemical test and antibacterial action screened by using Cylinder-plate assay method. Phytochemical analysis of the flowers extract showed the presence of tannins, steroids, saponins and flavonoids while alkaloids are absent. Phytochemical investigations explore active constituents which are very significant in drug development. The study revealed a notable antibacterial inhibitory activity of ethanolic extract of the flowers