Preliminary phytochemical screening of crude methanolic extract of some ethnomedicinal plants used by Muthuvan tribe from Kulachuvayal tribal colony, Kanthalloor, Idukki district of Kerala, India

Abstract

Antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of crude methanolic extract of selected ethnomedicinal plants from Kerala was examined. The plants studied were Atlantia monophylla, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Datura stramonium, Melia dubia, Ruta graveolens, Solanum villosum, Triumfetta rhomboidea and Vitex negundo which are used for treating various ailments among Muthuvan tribe. The methanol extract of the plants were evaluated against four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). None of them exhibited antibacterial activity. The methanol extract of plants was subjected to qualitative phytochemical tests.The phytochemical screening of plant extract revealed the presence and absence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, phyllotannins, steroids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins. Since the plant possess bioactive compounds, it is reliable to possess large number of therapeutic value and are being employed for the treatment of different ailments among the tribal community.