Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Ruta graveolens L. - A Medicinal Plant Grown around Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ruta graveolens L. is aromatic shrub belongs to family rutaceae. It is ornamental and medicinal plant used in the treatment of inflammation, ulcer, hypotension, reproductive disorders, menstrual problems, parasitic infection, wounds and injuries. The plant extracts showed good antibacterial and antifungal properties. Sixty days old seedlings were collected and leaves were shade dried and powdered. 5 grams of powder extracted with 25 ml different solvents, ethanol, methanol, chloroform and distilled water. Crude solutions were further diluted to 1/10 th and 1/100 th with DMS. Antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus cultures were evaluated by disc diffusion methods on Muller Hinton agar. In our study methanol and chloroform extract recorded better antibacterial activity than ethanol extract at higher dilution. Chloroform and methanol extracts showed more antibacterial activity than ethanol at lower concentration, water extract doesn't exert any activity. The phytochemical analysis of different solvent extracts of plant show considerable change in the nature of chemicals. Chloroform extract reported maximum number of secondary metabolites than remaining solvents.