2016, Vol. 4, Issue 6, Part A

author(s)
Lins Simon, R Nanthakumar and K Arumugasamy

abstract
The present study deals with the phytochemical examination and antimicrobial investigation of Tiliacora acuminata (Lam) f. Thoms., an important medicinal plant. The characterizations of compounds present in it were also analyzed using HPLC technique. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether and aqueous extracts prepared from T. acuminata leaf revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, phenols, saponins and tannins. The High- performance liquid chromatography analysis also confirmed the occurrence of an alkaloid compound, colocynthin in the methanolic leaf extract. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using methanolic leaf extracts of the plant. The extract was taken in different concentrations. The analysis was done by disc diffusion method, using 3 bacterial and 3 fungal strains. The bacterial strains used for this study were Serratia spp., Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungal strains were Actinomycetes spp., Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The results showed a maximum inhibitory action against all the bacterial and fungal strains with zones of inhibition ranging from 4mm to 17mm. Thus, the study reflects the potential of T. acuminata against the microbes. This observation becomes important in the context of the therapeutical and drug applications of T. acuminata.