MORPHOLOGICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF AMORPHOPHALLUS SYLVATICUS(ARACEAE)

The morphological features, phytochemical properties, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Amorphophallussylvaticus, a member of the family Araceae belongs to the Sect. Raphiophalluswas investigated. For chemical extraction, solvents hexane, methanol and water were used. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols and flavonoids in extracts of methanol and water. The presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, glycosides and saponins were confirmed in hexane extract. Tannins, anthraquinones, terpenoids and glycosides were detected in aqueous extract besides phenols and flavonoids. Among the three, methanol extract expressed maximum efficacy in DPPH radical scavenging assay while hexane and aqueous extract expressed relatively low radical scavenging property. All the three extracts showed good antibacterial property against the nine species of bacterial cultures studied. Hexane and methanol extract exhibited inhibition in maximum number of bacterial cultures compared to aqueous extract. High rate of inhibition was observed in hexane extract. The present study suggests that the corm of Amorphophallussylvaticus have great potential as a natural source of antioxidant and has good antibacterial property.