Antimicrobial Activity of Cinnamomum tamala Leaves

Abstract

In the present study phytochemical constituents, elemental composition and antimicrobial potential of the crude methanolic extract of Cinnamomum tamala leaves were explored. Tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids were detected as major phytochemical constituents. Cd, Mn, Pb, Cr, Sb, Na, K, Ca, Cu and Fe concentration were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy spectrometry (AAS). The results confirmed the presence of Ca as major metallic content i.e. 5634.25 mg/kg. The concentration of other heavy metals particularly Fe and Na were higher as compared to other metals while Cd was not detected. Antimicrobial potential of the crude extract and its fractions i.e. aqueous, n-hexane, dichloromethane and isobutanol were tested against six gram-negative, three gram-positive bacterial strains and one fungal strain by agar well diffusion method. The evaluated extracts evaluated showed variedable degree of inhibition zones against all tested microbes except dichloromethane, aqueous fraction and crude extract which were completely inactive against Salmonella typhi (a gram negative strain). The screening suggests that Cinnamomum tamala have interesting therapeutic potential and of course further biochemical tests are required to explore its possible mechanism of action.