PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF BUTEA MONOSPERMA FLOWER, LEAVES AND GUM: METHANOLIC AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT

Abstract

The present paper deals with the Characterization, Phytochemical determination and antimicrobial activity of Butea monosperma, an important
medicinal tree in India. The in-vitro antimicrobial activity of water and methanol extracts were studied by cup plate agar well diffusion method
against pathogenic bacteria viz., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Among the solvents used, the
water extract was found to be more effective against all pathogenic bacteria. The methanol extract does not inhibit Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. After characterization acid contents were separate out this found to be more effective against all the bacteria used. Non Acid content of
Gum inhibit the activity of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Activities of the various extracts were comparable to those of standard
antibacterial agent Ampicilin and Vancomycin as control. The results provided evidence that the studied plant might indeed be potential source of
phytochemical constitution, antimicrobial agent and showing that this plant can be used as a complementary source for traditional medicines.