Antibacterial Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Goniothalamus sesquipedalis (Wall.) Hook. f. & Thomson Extracts from Manipur, North East India

Aims: To screen the phytochemical constituents and study the antibacterial properties of the Goniothalamus sesquipedalis (Wall.) Hook.f. & Thomson used in the traditional medicine in the North East India.

Place and Duration of Study: Plant samples were collected from different parts of Manipur during May 2013 to February 2014. Experiments were performed at Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal.

Methodology: Antibacterial activities were analyzed by well diffusion method against the pathogen Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli by using different concentrations of methanolic extracts. Phytochemical screening was performed on the extracts of different solvents viz. chloroform, ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether and water.

Results: Methanolic extract exhibited higher inhibition zones in Escherichia coli with 10.03, 12.01, 13.04, 14.04, 15.03 and 16.04 mm as compared to Bacillus subtilis which showed 3.00, 4.04, 6.03, 7.04, 8.03 and 10.01 mm against extract concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 µl respectively. Alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids were detected in all the solvents used. Glycosides were not detected in chloroform extracts while phenols and tannins were absent in water extract. Phytosterol and saponins were detected in ethanol, water and petroleum ether extracts.

Conclusion: The present study showed that the Goniothalamus sesquipedalis is potential source of antibacterial agents and reaffirms its importance in traditional medicine.