In vitro antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis of Cassia auriculata Linn.

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of chloroform extract of Cassia auriculata L. The chloroform extract of C. auriculata were shown to possess an antimicrobial activity against two gram positive and two gram negative human pathogenic bacteria and fungi, viz. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and fungus cultures Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by using disc diffusion method. The extract showed antibacterial activity at all concentrations selected, but only the extract with the concentration of 300μg/ml showed maximum antibacterial activity against all the organisms except Pseudomonas aeruginosa which are comparable with the standard control, amikacin. The anti fungal activity of chloroform extract of C. auriculata revealed significant effect against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger with the net inhibition zone of 14 and 14 mm, respectively at 300μg/ml concentration, which is almost comparable with standard control, ketokonazole used as an antifungal agent. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, fixed oils, fats, tannins, gum & mucilage, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, lignin and sterols. It is concluded that the antimicrobial activity showed by the plant was due to the presence of these phytochemicals. Further studies are highly needed for future drug development.