Antibacterial Activity and Preliminary Screening of Phytochemicals of Whole Plant of Enicostemma littorale

Abstract

Enicostemma littorale is a glabrous perennial herb belonging to the family Gentianaceae. The whole plant is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The decoction is used to treat skin diseases such as kiranthi, itching and scabies. Phytochemical screening was carried out to identify the active functional groups of E. littorale plant which revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides and triterpenoids. Antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of the whole plant of E. littorale on eight bacterial isolates was investigated. They were Staphylococcus aureus – NCTC 6571, Escherichia coli – NCTC -10418, Pseudomonas aeruginosa – NCTC – 10662 and five wild strains of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Antibacterial activity was performed by the cut well diffusion and agar dilution methods. The aqueous extract of E. littorale showed growth inhibitory action against S. aureus (NCTC 6571 and 5 MRSA strains). Growth inhibitory action against E. coli and P aeruginosa could not be demonstrated using the agar dilution method, although inhibition of E. coli was shown using the cut well method. Further exploration of activity of the aqueous extract against a wider range of skin pathogens would be helpful. The ability of the aqueous extract of E. littorale to inhibit the growth of bacteria is an indication of its antibacterial potential which may be employed in the management of bacterial infections.