Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata

Abstract

Medicines of plant origin have been used to combat human diseases since time immemorial even before the history of their documentation. Andrographis paniculata belongs to the Acanthaceae family and is popularly known as king of bitters in English. The leaf extracts of A.Paniculata were analysed for the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponin, protein, phytosterol, phenolic compounds, flavonoid and glycoside. Antibiogram was done by disc diffusion method using plant extracts. The antimicrobial potential of ethanolic extract of Andrographis Paniculata was determined on the basis of mean diameter of zone of inhibition around the disc in millimeters. The ethanolic extract of leaves exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus.