Identification of antimicrobial compounds in chloroform extract of Polygonum minus

Abstract

Medicinal plants remains as a major source of antimicrobial compounds against plant and human pathogens. The antimicrobial activity of the chloroform extract of Polygonum minus was well documented in our earlier studies. The current study was performed with the aim to detect the chemical compounds peresent in the chloroform extract of Polygonum minus. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed for partial purification and separation of antimicrobial compounds from the plant extract. The bands obtained from TLC were collected and assayed for their antimicrobial activity against the selected plant pathogens of study. Active bands identified by TLC were further purified by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The fractions showing maximum peak area and yield were taken for further analysis in GC-MS to identify the antimicrobial compounds. GC-MS analysis revealed that the compounds like 1,2-heptadiene, ditetrazolo (1,5-a:5',1'-c) pyrazine, allylcyclopropane and 6-ethyl-2,3,11,12-dibenzo-1,4,7,10,13, 16-hexaoxacyclooctadeca-2,11-diene may be present in the chloroform extract of P. minus.