PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND IN VITRO EFFICACY OF TWO EDIBLE CASSIA SPECIES ON SELECTED HUMAN PATHOGENS

Present study reports phytochemical screening and   the inhibitory activity of crude extracts of Cassia tora and Cassia sophera (fam: caesalpinaceae) on some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The selected plants are edible and used by local herbal medical practitioners to treat various skin infections and respiratory problems. Leaf and flower extracts were prepared with different solvents and tested for the presence of primary and secondary metabolites which are pharmacologically active compounds. Acetone and Aqueous extracts revealed the presence of more constituents including glycosides, phenols, flavonoids alkaloids etc. As many of the active ingredients in chemically manufactured drugs were originally derived from plant compounds, extracts are also used to screen the antimicrobial activity. The results showed very high inhibitory activity against skin pathogens like Staphylococcus and Candida albicans. The zone of inhibition was determined utilizing the well diffusion method. For comparison chloramphenicol and Fluconazole were used as standard reference. Among bacteria used gram positive bacteria and fungus Candida albicans were most inhibited. Flower and leaf extracts showed different activity, revealing differential solubility of phytochemicals. The present study correlates medicinal properties of C. tora and C. sophera and their use in folklore medicine.