Phytochemical and antimicrobial evaluation of a hemiparasitic mistletoe plant, Dendrophthoe falcata (L.F.) Ettingsh, parasitize on Artocarpus heterophyllus host tree

Abstract

The preliminary phytochemical screening in different solvent extracts of Dendrophthoe falcata Leaf, tender shoot and bark samples collected from Artocarpus heterophyllus host tree, exhibited variations in the presence of phytocompounds depends upon the polarity of solvents and solubility level of phyto components. The results of biochemicals and mineral content analysis in the Dendrophthoe falcata plant samples indicate that the leaf sample possess more amount of starch, calcium and magnesium, whereas the tender shoot contain more amount of phosphorus and more amount of protein, reducing sugar, carbohydrate and iron noted in the bark sample than other samples. Zinc was not detected in all the samples tested. The ethanol extracts of Dendrophthoe falcata plant samples shows less antimicrobial activity in general as compared to control. Moderate antibacterial activity was observed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., and Pseudomonas sp. However, the bark extract shows inhibitory effect against all organisms tested, whereas the tender shoot extract inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus sp., moderately and the leaf extract inhibit only the Staphylococcus sp., as compared to other bacteria, tested. Moderate antifungal activity of Dendrophthoe falcata plant sample extracts was noted against Penicillium sp., Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus.