Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. et Lindenb against pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

The in vitro antibacterial activity of whole thallus of Plagiochasma appendiculatum and its fractions petroleum ether, benzene, acetone, methanol, ethanol, and aqueous extracts were tested against the growth of four human pathogenic gram negative bacteria namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and two gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus using agar well diffusion technique. The plant showed significant antibacterial activity against almost all the organisms. The maximum antibacterial activity was observed in methanolic extract against Escherichia coli and minimum activity was observed in petroleum ether extract against Staphylococcus aureus. The phytochemical analysis of the extract indicated the presence of saponin, flavonoids, and sesquiterpenes. The inhibitory effect of the extract was compared with standard antibiotics, streptomycin.