PHYTONUTRIENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ASSAY OF CAT’S TAIL

Herbal medicine plays an important role in rural areas, and various locally produced drugs are still being used as household remedies for different ailments. Acalypha hispida (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant popularly used in pharmaceutical used and as a commercial product. Hence, the need to explore the potential of this plant, especially in the area of traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries, arises. The present study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and radical-scavenging activities of methanol and ethanol extracts of leaf and flower of A. hispida. Phytochemical screening showed that phenol, tannin, alkaloid, and flavonoid are present in methanol extract of a leaf. In ethanol extract of leaves, tannin, alkaloid, and flavonoid are present. In the methanol extract of flower, phenol, tannin, and carbohydrate are present, and phenol, tannin, alkaloid, and flavanoid are present in the ethanol extract of the flower. The organisms used for the antibacterial properties assessment were E. coli, Candida albicans, B. cereus, and Salmonella typhi. In antimicrobial activity, the desired concentrations were 2.5%, 1.25%, and 0.625% against four bacteria’s namely- E. coli, S. albican, S. epidermis, and S. typhi. The zone of inhibition was found best in the concentration of 2.5% against E. coli in the leaf extract. In the case of a flower zone of inhibition was found best in a concentration of 2.5% against S. typhi. Hence, the need to explore the potential of this plant, especially in the area of traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries, arises.