Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial properties and phytochemical composition of Artocarpus altilis leaves using ethanol, n-hexane and water

Abstract

This study was undertaken to describe the co mparative evaluation of phytochemical constitu ents and antimicrobial activity of Artocarpus altilis leaves in three different solvents (ethanol, n-hexane and water). Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis carried out confirmed the pre sence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, reducing sugar, saponins, soluble carbohydrate, hydrogen cyanide and glycoside in all the extracts. Th e antimicrobial activity was tested using two different methods: Agar well diffusion method and agar dilution met thod against seven bacterial and three fungal strains. The results showed that antibacterial and antifun gal activities were more effective using the agar dilution method with the e thanol extract having the highest inhibitory activity against the microorga nisms as compared to the other solvents used (n-hexane and water). At concentrations of 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 mg/ml, ethanol extract showed total inhibitory activity against all the test microorganisms used. N-hexane extract showed inhibitory activity against all the micro organisms up to a conc entration o of 8 mg/ml, while the aqueous extract had no activity against the microorganisms a t all the concentrations tested (10 to 1 mg/ml). Under the agar diffusion method, the microorganis ms were tested at concentrations of 100, 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 mg/ml and the method showed very minimal inhibition against all the microorg anisms tested with only the ethanol extract showing a little degree of inhibition with an MIC of 3.98 mg/ml against B. subtilis. The other solvents (n-hexane and water) s showed no activity against the test microorganisms at all the concentrations tested. Anti-nutrient analysis revealed the presence of phytate, oxal ate, tannin and cyanide i in all the extracts.