Comparison of Phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activities of Mentha spicata from four northern districts of Khyber pakhtunkhwa.

ABSTRACT

The medicinal value of plants lies in bioactive phytochemical constituents that produce definite physiological actions on the human body. Some of the most important bioactive phytochemical constituents are Tannin, Alkaloids, Saponins, Flavonoids, Steroids, Anthraquinones, Coumarins and Sterols and Terpenes. Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly one half of all deaths in tropical countries which are also becoming a significant problem in developed countries. Therefore the present study was aimed to analyzed the phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities of Mentha spicata. The phytochemical constituents were determined by using known literature method while the antimicrobial activity was analyzed by classical literature methods. In case of phytochemicals, Tannin, Alkaloids, Glycosides, Flavonoids, Steroids, Coumarines, Sterols and Terpenes were found while saponins and anthraquinones were not determined in all the samples. Antibacterial activity was noted high in all the samples of crude extract followed by ethyl acetate and lowest activity was found was found in aqueous extract of Mentha spicata. The Same results were analyzed for antifungal activity.