PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION AND INVITRO ANTIBACTERIAL SCREENING OF WRIGHTIA TINCTORIA (ROXB.) R. BR. AGAINST

The enteric pathogens are responsible for major health problems in most of the countries. Pathogens develop resistance against the antibiotics, and its continuous use may cause severe side effects. This urged to find alternate means to control the infection. The leaves of Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R. Br. taken from an herbal garden was evaluated against five enteric pathogens. Antibacterial activities of the extracts were determined by the agar disc diffusion method. Chlortetracycline (5 mcg/disc) was used as positive control for comparison of the inhibition zones. Phytochemical screening of the plant leaves revealed the presence of steroids, reducing sugar, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The extract showed efficient antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with maximum zone of inhibition. 10µg/ml of the methanol extract was observed to be the minimum inhibitory concentration against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella boydii.