Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Leaf and Stem Extracts of Priva cordifolia (L.f.) Druce

In current environment increasing resistance to existing antimicrobial agents and herbal drugs are being investigated as important sources for new agents for testing various diseases related to bacterial infections. The present work is aimed at exploring the preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of leaf and stem extracts of Priva cordifolia belongs to family Verbenaceae. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity was studied using various organisms by means of a disc diffusion method. Susceptibility of some Gram positive organisms (Bacillus substilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative organisms (Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli) were tested against leaf and stem extracts (water, methanol and ethanol). Among the various extracts, water stem extract was more effective (19.66±1.52 mm) and ethanol stem extract found to be less effective (1±1) against all the bacteria. It is concluded that the plant extract showed antimicrobial activity because of the presence of these phytochemicals. Further studies are recommended for drug development to treat various infectious diseases.