Phytochemical and Microbial screening of the Aerial parts of Vernonia Pauciflora (willd.) Less

Abstract

The medicinal plant Vernonia pauciflora (willd.) Less (Asteraceae) is known for its medicinal potential. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the sample of the herb showed positive test for Alkaloid, Carbohydrate, Triterpenes, Cardiac glycoside, Saponins, Tannins and Flavonoids. The antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts namely Methanol, Ethyl acetate and Hexane extracts were tested on gram positive bacteria (Methicillin Rest.Staph. aureus, Staphylococus aureus, Stphylococcus pyogene, Staphylococcus pneumoniae), gram negative bacteria (Vancomycin Rest. Enterococci, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhii, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae) using disc diffusion method while fungi (Candida albicans and Candida krusel,) tested using sabroiddextroxe broth were found to be effective on all the pathogen when compared with activity of the standard antimicrobial except Strep. pyogene, Vancomycin Rest. Staph. enterococci, Shigella dysenteriae and Candidas. tropicalis that did not show activity. The plant exhibited significant antimicrobial potency. This study concluded that Vernonia pauciflora (Willd.) Less used as a traditional medicinal plant has antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms. To the best of our knowledge there is not any report on phytochemical and antimicrobial results on this plant.