CHEMICAL GROUP CHARACTERIZATION AND BIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF SPERMACOCE LATIFOLIA
The study was carried out to find the possible phytochemical characteristics (group determinant of plant extract), and to investigate the cytotoxic and anti-microbial study of Spermacoce latifolia (Whole plant). In-vitro anti-microbial activity of the methanol extracts was measured by ciprofloxacin (5mg/disc) as standard against a wide range of both gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi & Pseudomonous aeruginosa) bacteria and fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger) also by disc diffusion method. The crude extract showed moderate antibacterial & antifungal activity against seven micro-organisms. The zones of inhibition produced by the methanolic crude extract were found to be 7-8 mm at a concentration of 400 mg/disc. The methanolic extract of Spermacoce latifolia was screened for cytotoxic properties using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Phytochemical analysis of the crude extract revealed the presence of alkaloid(s). A reputed cytotoxic agent vincristine sulphate was used as a positive control. From the results of the brine shrimp lethality bioassay it can be well predicted that methanolic extract of S. latifolia possesses cytotoxic principles (with LC50 32.62 mg/ml) comparison with positive control vincristine sulphate (with LC50 0.839 mg/ml)