Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF FERN ADIANTUM LUNULATUM BURM .F

P. J. Jenat* and S. N. Suresh

Abstract

Phytochemical studies on the fern Adiantum lunulatum are very much necessary to identify the presence of phytoconstituents. Different phytochemical tests and antimicrobial assay help to evaluate, the medicinal potential of the phytochemicals present in this fern. Phytochemical screening for major phytochemicals such as Phenols, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides proteins and carbohydrates were carried out by using ethanol, methanol, chloroform and aqueous plant extracts. Antimicrobial study was performed by using agar well diffusion method, with four bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli). Presence of phytochemicals such as phenols, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, proteins was confirmed in Adiantum lunulatum extracts. Fern extracts also show good bactericidal activity, against selected bacterial species by forming clear zone of inhibition. So this plant has promising future in the medicinal field and drug development.

Keywords: Phytochemical, Antimicrobial, Bactericidal, confirmed.