Abstract

SCREENING OF PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF LEUCAS ASPERA (WILD.) LINK

Dr. G. Sakthivigneswari*, Savitha P., Selvi S. and Shrimathi, K.

ABSTRACT

Leucas aspera (Wild.) Link commonly known as 'Thumbai' belongs to the family Lamiaceae. In organoleptic study the dried leaf powder of Leucas aspera was dark in colour. The odour was pleasant and taste was bitter. The preliminary phytochemical analysis maximum amount of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile oil and sterol contents were present in methanolic leaf extracts as compared to the acetone and aqueous extracts. In antibacterial activity, methanolic extracts showed promising antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by Escherichia coli. The gram negative bacteria like Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were more susceptible than the gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore the zones of inhibitions were high in the gram negative bacteria. The zones of inhibitions were moderately differing from each other as compared to the standard antibiotic. The strong antibacterial activity may be due to the solubility of secondary metabolites was more in methanol extracts. Further investigation is also required to go through the detailed analysis of bioactive compounds in the selected plant Leucas aspera (Wild.) Link.

Keywords: Leucas aspera, Organoleptic study, Phytochemical, Antibacterial activity.