Phytochemical, GC-MS Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of Bioactive Compounds of Petroleum Ether Leaf Extracts of Salix viminalis

Medicinal Plants have been used for centuries as remedies for human illness. The objectives of the study was to isolate and analyze phytochemical constituents of Petroleum ether leaf extracts of Salix viminalis and their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli SN 1224 (Gram -ve), Salmonella typhi SN 0464 (Gram ve) and Staphylococcus aureus SN 1175 (Gram +ve). Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out according to the standard methods, which showed presence of glycosides, phenols, alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids. GC-MS analysis showed forty seven chemical compounds out of which Nonadecyl trifluoroacetate (10.72), Tetracosanal (9.01), Cholesterol (8.11) and Cholest-4-en-3-one (8.02), Pentatriacontane (5.41) were found in major concentration. Petroleum ether leaf extracts of Salix viminalis has shown significant antibacterial activity against all the strains used in this study. Activity was measured in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration, disc diffusion assay and growth curve study. Antibacterial results revealed that the Petroleum ether leaf extracts of Salix viminalis can be used as a raw material for the future anti-bacterial drug.