International Journal of Advanced Research and Development

Authors
T Kumaran, T Citarasu

Abstract
The search for new molecules, nowadays, has taken a slightly different route where the science of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacognosy are being used as guide to lead the chemist towards different sources and classes of compounds. It is in this context that the flora of the tropics by virtue of its diversity has a significant role to play in being able to provide new leads. In the present study, four selected Indian medicinal plants such as Asparagus racemosus, Zinziber officinale, Piper nigrum, and Curcuma longa were analyzed for phytochemical constituents and tested for antibacterial activity against pathogens. In most of the samples all the phytochemicals i.e. reducing sugar, Terpenoids, Flavonoids, Saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates and phytosterols were present. Methanol and aqueous extracts of the samples of all plants were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonasaeruginosa by agar plate well diffusion method. All the plant extracts showed significant antibacterial activity against the tested organisms. However, methanol extracts showed maximum inhibitory effect from this Zinziber officinale, Asparagus racemosus and Piper nigrum were showed maximum bacterial inhibition than other plants.