Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISSN 2249-9717 Original Article Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of
ISSN 2249-9717 Original Article Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of
com
ISSN 2249-9717
Original Article
PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF
AZADIRACHTA INDICA A JUSS.
B. VINOTH, R. MANIVASAGAPERUMAL* AND M. RAJARAVINDRAN.
Department of Botany, Annamalai university, Annamalai Nagar 608 002, Tamilnadu, India
*Corresponding author Email:vbvinobio@gmail.com
Received 22 August 2012; accepted 06 September 2012
Abstract
Azadirachta indica A Juss. is a very useful traditional medicinal plant in the sub-continent and each part of the tree has
some medicinal properties. The plant is native to Asia, but has now naturalized in West Africa and is widely cultivated in
Nigeria as an ornamental as well as medicinal plant. Fresh leaves of the plant were collected, dried, homogenized and
extracted using 95% Ethanol, Methanol and Acetone. Phytochemical analysis gave positive results for steroids,
triterpinoids, reducing sugars, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins. This study aimed at screening the
active components and the antibacterial effects of the Ethanol, Methanol and Acetone. Leaf extract of Azadiracta indica
contains pharmacologically active constituents that may be responsible for its activity against P. aeroginosa, S. aureus, E.
coli and S. typhi. Therefore, the use of Neem plant in our community for treating diverse medical ailments especially
infectious diseases is highly justified.
© 2011 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Key words: Azadiracta indica, Phytochemical analysis, Antibacterial, Gram Pasitive and Negative Bacteria.
INTRODUCTION (Mahesh and Satish et al., 2008). Almost every part of the
Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) commonly known tree is bitter and finds application in indigenous medicine.
as neem is native of India and naturalized in most of Neem extract has been reported to have antidiabetic,
tropical and subtropical countries is of great medicinal antibacterial and antiviral activity (Kirtikar and Basu,
value and distributed wide spread in the world. The 1987). Almost every part of the tree has been in use since
Chemical constituents contain many biologically active ancient times to treat a number of human ailments and
compounds that can be extracted from neem, including also as a household pesticide. The extract from bark,
alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, phenolic compounds, leaves, fruits and root have been used to control leprosy,
Carotenoids, steroids and ketones. Azadirachtin is actually intestinal helminthiasis and respiratory disorders in
a mixture of seven isomeric compounds labeled as children (Chattopadhyay etial., 1993). Flavonoids, flavono-
azadirachtin A-G and azadirachtin E is more effective glycosides, dihydrochalocones, tannins and others are also
(Verkerk et al., 1993). Other compounds that have a important constituents of bark, leaves, fruits and flowers of
biological activity are salannin, volatile oils, meliantriol neem. The biological activities and medicinal properties of
and nimbin (Jacobson et al., 1990; Ahana et al., 2005). neem have recently been reported (Venugopal and
Neem leaf is effective in treating eczema, ringworm, acne, Venugopal, 1994).
anti-inflammatory, antiheperglycemic properties and it is Natural drugs have been a part of the evolution of
used to heal chronic wounds , diabetic food and gangrene human, healthcare for thousands of years. Nowadays nearly
developing conditions. It is believed to remove toxins from 88% of the global populations turn to plant derived
the body, neutralize free radicals and purify the blood. It is medicines as their first line of defence for maintaining
used as anticancer agent and it has hepato-renal protective health and compacting diseases. One hundred and nineteen
activity and hypolipidemic effects (Fitoterapia part I and secondary plant metabolites derived from plants are used
part II). globally as drugs, 15% of all angiosperms have been
Medicinal plants have been found useful in the investigated chemically and of that 74% of
cure of a number of diseases including bacterial diseases. pharmacologically active plant derived components were
Medicinal plants are a rich source of antimicrobial agents discovered (Raja and Ramanathan, 2009). Plants are rich in