Phytochemical studies and antibacterial activity of Barleria acuminata Nees (Acanthaceae)

Abstract

The study was aimed to analyse preliminary screening of phytochemicals and evaluation the antibacterial activity of the leaves extracts of Barleria acuminata. Acetone, aqueous, dimethyl ether, chloroform and ethanol extracts of dried and ground plant materials were prepared using Soxhlet apparatus. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the extracts showed positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, phenols, terpenoids and saponin. Antibacterial activities of the extracts were evaluated by agar well diffusion method. The extracts exhibited significant effects against more bacterial pathogens and Gram negative bacteria were highly inhibited than Gram positive bacteria. The ethanol extracts of leaf showed more activity followed by chloroform extract. This study supports the traditional use of B.acuminata for the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases and might be helpful for further investigation of the plants to assess their chemical prospective in future research.