Phytochemical, Nutritional and Antimicrobial Properties of Boerhaavia Diffusa

Boerhaavia diffusa Linn has attracted a lot of attention due to its prevalent uses in Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is widely used in jaundice, hepatitis, oedema, anemia, inflammation, eye diseases etc. The aim of present study was to evaluate the qualitative analysis of phytochemicals, because these phytochemicals are the basis of pharmacological properties of plant. Proximate analysis was done with the aim do determine the nutritional value, some macro-elements such as Ca, Na, K etc. play important function in many biochemical reactions. Antimicrobial activity of four solvent extracts (aqueous, methanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether) of Boerhaavia diffusa leaves was also tested against 10 human pathogenic microbes including both bacteria and fungi. Results of present study showed that plant has good nutritional value and rich in crude fiber and carbohydrates. Although antimicrobial activity was observed in only methanol and ethyl acetate extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum aqueous and ethyl acetate extract did not show any inhibitory activity against any microbe. Thus it is concluded that plant play important role in strengthening, preventing and to some extent preventing the body from infections caused by infectious microbes.