Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activities of Leaf Extracts of Andrographis paniculata

Herbs and natural products do not possess much of the toxicity that is present in synthetic chemicals thus enhancing their appeal for long term preventive strategies. The phytochemical and antioxidant potentials of ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts of andrographis paniculata (AP) leaves were assessed using standard methods. The antimicrobial activity of Ethanol, Methanol and Water extracts of andrographis paniculata (AP) leaves against bacterial strains like Salmonella typhii, Shigella dysentriae, Staphylococcus aureus and fungal strains like Candida albicans, Penicillum chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger was studied. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar well diffusion method. The results revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin and the absence of reducing sugars in all the extracts. Antimicrobial analysis showed that ethanolic extract had the highest activity against Salmonella typhii, Shigella dysentriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The ethanolic leaf extract was observed to possess the highest phenolic and antioxidants content. It can be concluded that AP hold a great promise in the treatment of infections. Our results confer the utility of this plant extracts in developing a novel broad spectrum antimicrobial agent.