IN-VITRO ANTI-BACTERIAL POTENCY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE L. LEAF AGAINST SOME GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT INFECTION-CAUSING BACTERIA

Bacterial infections are one of the prominent causes of health problems and mortalities around the world. Medicinal plants are a rich source of antimicrobial agents and provide a safer and cost-effective way of treating bacterial infections. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the anti-bacterial potential of petroleum ether and methanol extracts of Anacardium occidentale L. leaf. The anti-bacterial potential of A. occidentale L. leaf was tested against gastrointestinal tract infection-causing bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Enterococcus faecalis, Vibrio cholariae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhi by using the agar well diffusion method. Streptomycin was taken as the reference antibiotic. The results indicated that petroleum ether extract of A. occidentale L. exhibited the highest zone of inhibition against Shigella flexneri (26±0.75) and least against Staphylococcus aureus (11±1.32). In contrast, methanolic extract exhibited the highest zone of inhibition on Vibrio cholariae (20±1.41) and least against Escherichia coli (11±0.21). The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, triterpenoids, proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates, etc. The petroleum ether and methanolic extracts were subjected to a TLC study, and the R_f value of different spots was observed in various solvent systems. The activity of the plant extracts is due to the presence of different phytoconstituents, which may be utilized for the development of newer therapeutic agents against gastrointestinal tract infections.