Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF HIMALAYAN JUNIPER, JUNIPERUS SQUAMATA BUCH– HAM EX D. DON FOR PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL AGAINST SOME INFECTION CAUSING PATHOGENS

S. C. Sati and Parikshit Kumar*

Abstract

Leaves of Juniperus squamata Buch. – Ham ex D. Don was screened for phytochemicals and in vitro antibacterial activity. The shade dried leaves were extracted with methanol and ethanol. Ethanol and methanol extracts of J. squamata were assessed for their antibacterial potential and phytochemical screening against five pathogenic bacteria; Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Erwinia chrysanthemi and Xanthomonas phaseoli, employing disc-diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were further observed by employing serial dilution technique. Both extracts of J. squamata were found effective by showing a mark zone of inhibition (ZOI). The maximum inhibitory potential was recorded in ethanol extract (ZOI,15-21 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ethanolic extract were also determined as 31.25 to 500 μg/ml and 125 to 500 μg/ml, respectively. The lowest MIC (31.25μg/ml) was observed in ethanol extract against E. chrysanthemi while lowest MBC (125μg/ml) was recorded against E. chrysanthemi and B. subtilis, in the same extract. Solvents treated discs were used as negative control and discs of standard antibiotics served as positive control in the experiment. The qualitative phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, protein, saponin, terpenoids, phenols, starch, and resins, in both used extracts. The results showed that both leaves extracts of J. squamata possess a broad spectrum activity against a panel of bacterial strains responsible for the most common plant and animal diseases.

Keywords: Juniperus squamata, phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity and gymnosperm plant extracts.