Phytochemical Analysis on Aqueous Leaf Extract of Justicia carnea (Acanthaceae) and its Antibacterial Activity on Some Isolated Bacterial

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the bioactive constituents and antibacterial efficacy of Justicia carnea leaf aqueous extracts on some pathogenic organisms involved in causing infections in humans. The antimicrobial and medicinal properties was examined through phytochemical screening of the plants constituents using standard qualitative methods and conducting bioassay on target bacteria of medical importance such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the agar well diffusion method. The screening revealed that tannins, saponins and alkaloids is highly detected followed by flavonoids that is moderately detected whereas phlobatannins, phenol and volatile oils are present in low amount. The result shows that the leaf extract was active against S. aureus, K. pneumonia, S. typhi, E. coli and P. aeruginosa measuring clear zones of inhibition 26.0mm, 22.0mm, 20.0mm, 18.0mm and 18.0mm respectively. Hence, the extracts exhibit strong antibacterial activity and could be used as a preventive and curative measures to common diseases related to the test organisms.