Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Different Aqueous Extracts of Senna Alata

Abstract

Plants are reservoir of wide range of bioactive compounds, which have a major role in the maintenance of human health since ancient time. In this study different form of aqueous extracts (cold, hot and fresh juice) of leaf of Senna alata (Tamil- Vandugolli, Sinhala- Et-tora) were tested for their antibacterial activity against Xaothomonss ax1 onopodis, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, PSeudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris by agar well diffusion method. Streptomycin and sterile distilled water were used as standard and control respectively. Simultaneously, antifungal activity was also carried out against plant pathogenic fungi, Sclerotium Y'Olfsii, Botryodiplodia theobromae and Alternaria parry by poisoned food technique. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was also done to identify the chemical compounds present in the extracts. This study demonstrated the significant (P <0.05) difference in the antibacterial activity of the aqueous extracts against tested bacteria. The hot and cold extracts were able to inhibit the growth of all tested bacteria, while the fresh juice had inhibition only on A. axonopodis, B. subtilis and S. aureus. The cold extract revealed significantly (P <0.05) higher inhibition on all test bacteria except B. subtilis, which was highly inhibited by fresh juice. All the three extracts were able to control the mycelial growth of S Rolfsen, but these extracts induced the growth of B. theobromine. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, tannins, pholobatannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and anthraquinones. This sandy has confirmed the feasibility of io vitro control of tested bacteria and S.rolfsii by aqueous extracts of s. alnfa. Further purification and characterization of the bioactive components from these extracts may provide better understanding of bioactivity of base extracts.