In Vitro Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Potent Ethno Medicinal Plants from Acanthaceae Family

Abstract

The family Acanthaceae is in the major group Angiosperms (Flowering plants). Acanthaceae newlinefamily contains almost 346 genera and about 4300 species placing it among the top 12 most diverse families of flowering plants in all over the world. Most are tropical herbs, shrubs, and twining vines; some are epiphytes. Only a few species are distributed in temperate regions. Some species of Acanthaceae play a key role for the treatment of many lethal diseases. It contained many important secondary metabolites as alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, tannins, quinones, cardiac glycosides, saponins, carbohydrates, flavonoids and proteins that have many therapeutic uses. The present study is the first to undertake the phytochemical analysis and evaluate the antibacterial activity of selected plants from Acanthaceae family against diverse human pathogens. In the current study, leaves and flower of Barleria prionitis, Andrographis paniculata, Peristrophe bicalyculata, Hygrophila Aurelia and Crossandra infundibuliformis were used. These plants were selected on the basis of information contained in the Ayurvedic text, ethanobotanical surveys, limited antimicrobial studies reported, phytochemical newlineconstituents/bioactive molecules published in the literature. Five strains of human pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia) were adopted for experimental work in the present investigations. Desired parts of selected plants were removed from the plants and then washed under running newlinetap water to remove dust. The plant samples were then air dried for few days and the leaves were crushed into powder and stored in polythene bags for use. The plant powder was taken in a test tube and distilled water was added to it such that plant powder soaked in it and shaken well. The solution then filtered with the help of filter paper and filtered extract of the selected plant samples were taken and used for further phytochemical analysis.