EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF CROSSANDRA INFUNDIBULIFORMIS (L) NEES FLOWER EXTRACT
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the flower extracts of Crossandra infundibuliformis (L)Nees, (Acanthaceae) for its phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial properties. The flowers of C.infundibuliformis were extracted with chloroform, acetone, methanol and water by cold maceration. The extracts were used to evaluate the presence of phytoconstituents and antimicrobial activity. The presence of phytoconstituents like carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids were observed. The antimicrobial activity was carried by agar well diffusion method against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungi like Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma viridae and C.albicans. The antimicrobial activity is prominent with acetone and methanol extracts against tested bacteria and fungi. The diameters of zone of inhibition range from 09 to 18 mm for bacteria and 09-12mm for fungi. The activities of some of these extracts were comparable with the reference standards ciprofloxacin for bacteria and griseofulvin for fungi. The results reported in the present work shows evidence that the flower of C.infundibuliformis possess antimicrobial activity.