Phytochemical Screening And Antimicrobial Study Of The Different Leaf Extracts Of Alocasia sanderiana Bull. An Endemic Philippine Plant

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the phytochemical contents and evaluate the antimicrobial property of Alocasia sanderiana Bull. against a large number of pathogens. To do this Alocasia sanderiana Bull. was screened for qualitative phytochemical tests including thin layer chromatography. Aside from the crude extract from the Rotary evaporator three fractions from the plant were prepared using methanol dichloromethane DCM and hexane. The 4 solvent extracts were then evaluated for antimicrobial activity using disc diffusion method on 18 strains of organisms. About this study it was found out that triterpenes tannins and saponins are present during phytochemical screening. Zones of inhibitions during the antimicrobial tests were observed but did not reach the desired zone for antimicrobial activity. The DCM fraction produced 4 mm zone against Proteus mirabilis 3 mm for Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1 mm for Pectobacterium carotovorum and 1 mm for Candida albicans. The methanol fraction also produced a 1 mm zone against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results show that Alocasia sanderiana Bull. leaf extracts contain polyphenolic compounds but this study shows that it exhibits non-active antimicrobial activity against the 18 strains that it was tested and may not be utilized as a potential antimicrobial drug for the said strains.