Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ITS ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THE FERN HEMIONITIS ARIFOLIA (BURM.) MOORE

R. Rakkimuthu*, B. Naveenraj, L. Benitta and K. Dhanya

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the phytochemistry and antibacterial activity of the fern Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.) Moore. The methanol leaf extracts of this fern was investigated for qualitative phytochemistry and antibacterial analysis. The antibacterial activity was studied against different bacterial strains viz. Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus sp and Klebsiella pneumoniae by agar well method. The zone of inhibition was compared with standard antibiotic of Ampicilin. The highest antibacterial activity was observed against gram positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis at 100 mg/ml concentration. The qualitative analysis revealed the presence of phenols, saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides and carbohydrates.

Keywords: Hemionitis arifolia, Phytochemical analysis, antibacterial activity, well diffusion method.