Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial properties and phytochemical composition of Artocarpus altilis leaves using ethanol, n-hexane and water

This study was undertaken to describe the comparative evaluation of phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of Artocarpus altilis leaves in three different solvents (ethanol, n-hexane and water). Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis carried out confirmed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, reducing sugar, saponins, soluble carbohydrate, hydrogen cyanide and glycoside in all the extracts. The antimicrobial activity was tested using two different methods: Agar well diffusion method and agar dilution method against seven bacterial and three fungal strains. The results showed that antibacterial and antifungal activities were more effective using the agar dilution method with the ethanol extract having the highest inhibitory activity against the microorganisms as compared to the other solvents used (n-hexane and water). At concentrations of 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 mg/ml, ethanol extract showed total inhibitory activity against all the test microorganisms used. N-hexane extract showed inhibitory activity against all the microorganisms up to a concentration of 8 mg/ml, while the aqueous extract had no activity against the microorganisms at all the concentrations tested (10 to 1 mg/ml). Under the agar diffusion method, the microorganisms were tested at concentrations of 100, 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 mg/ml and the method showed very minimal inhibition against all the microorganisms tested with only the ethanol extract showing a little degree of inhibition with an MIC of 3.98 mg/ml against B. subtilis. The other solvents (n-hexane and water) showed no activity against the test microorganisms at all the concentrations tested. Anti-nutrient analysis revealed the presence of phytate, oxalate, tannin and cyanide in all the extracts. Key words: Agar diffusion method, anti-nutrient, Artocarpus altilis leaves, phytochemical constituents.