PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF THE LEAVES OF ANTIARIS TOXICARIA, (LESCH)

Abstract

Antiaris toxicaria Lesch. commonly known as bark cloth tree. Its medicinal value is yet unexplored, hence this study forms a basis for the active components present in it and further isolation of the compound. The preliminary phytochemical screening in different solvent extracts of Antiaris toxicaria leaves, collected in the area Anaikatti, Coimbatore District exhibited variations in the presence of phytocompounds depends upon the polarity of solvents, the methanolic extract showed the presence of all phytoconstituents except alkaloids. In the present study, the methanol extract showed good antibacterial activity than chloroform and water extracts. It revealed that the methanol was the most effective solvent for the antibacterial activity. In antifungal activity, the aqueous and methanol extract showed good activity against Cuvularia lunata and Aspergillus flavus in which the zone of inhibition was higher against Aspergillus flavus.