Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Assessment of Five Medicinal Plants Found in Terai Region

Abstract

Crude petroleum ether and methanol extracts of different parts of five medicinal plants collected from Terai region, namely, Asparagus racemosus, Catharanthus roseus, Hedychium coronarium, Mimosa pudica and Terminalia chebula were examined for their antimicrobial activity against different pathogenic microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsella spp., Salmonella paratyphi, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. From the obtained growth curves of methanol extract of Terminalia chebula and petroleum ether and methanol extracts of Hedychium coronarium, it can be said these extracts have relatively high bacteriostatic property than other plant extracts. Similarly, the zone of inhibitions observed during antifungal assay by methanol extract of Terminalia chebula against Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. are comparable to that of Itraconazole (antifungal drug). It shows that Terminalia chebula has fungistatic property. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and glycosides. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 13, No. 2 (2012) 79-86 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v13i2.7718