Phytochemical and comparative study of anti microbial activity of Lepisanthes amoena leaves extract

Abstract

The genus Lepisanthes belongs to one of the groups of plant family Sapindaceae. A number of species from this genus are widely used in traditional and folk medicine systems in different parts of the world. Lepisanthes amoena extract was obtained from the leaves by extracting from methanol and 95% ethanol solvent. The highest yield of Lepisanthes amoena extract was found in methanol extract (8.75%). This study was designed to test the antimicrobial potential of Lepisanthes amoena (Sapindaceae) leaves against selected oral and skin pathogen, such as Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans and Propionium acnes. A qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed for the detection of alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, saponin and carbohydrate. The antimicrobial activity were tested by agar well diffusion method. Almost all extracts exhibited good inhibitory effect against tested pathogens. The expression level of inhibitory effect on the growth of tested organism was reduced by increasing the concentration of extract. The ethanol extract of Lepisanthes amoena leaves exerted greater antimicrobial activity than corresponding methanol extract at the same concentrations The zones of inhibition produced by ethanol extracts against test organisms were in the order:  Propionium acnes > Streptococcus mutans > Candida albicans, while methanol extracts were Streptococcus mutans > Candida albicans > Propionium acnes. Lepisanthes amoena have been found to be effective against pathogenic microorganisms involved in oral and skin infections. The result of the study justified the use of the plant in the treatment of diseases of microbial origin in herbal medicine.

Keywords: Lepisanthes amoena, phytochemical, antimicrobial