Phytochemical screening and evaluation of Berginia ligulata root extract for antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Berginia ligulata popularly known as paashaanbhed belongs to family Saxifragaceae. The present study was designed to screen out various phytoconstituents present in the roots of Berginia ligulata and further its antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacteria. For this roots of the plant were shade dried, powdered and extracted using different solvents in increasing order of polarity i.e. petroleum ether, diethyl ether, acetone, ethanol and methanol respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, flavanoids, glycosides and carbohydrates. The presence of these bioactive constituents is associated with the antimicrobial activity of the plant. Antimicrobial activity of extracts was performed by disc diffusion method at a concentration of 100% and 50% (w/v) against five bacterial strains. The maximum antimicrobial activity was found in ethanol extract followed by acetone, methanol, diethyl ether and least in petroleum ether extract respectively. Ethanol extract revealed broad spectrum of inhibition against S. sureus and P. aeruginosa.

Keywords

• Berginia ligulata
• paashaanbhed
• antimicrobial activity
• phytochemical screening