Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Andrographis macrobotrys Nees - An Endangered Medicinal Plant of India

Andrographis macrobotrys Nees is an extensively utilized Indian traditional medicine to treat several human and livestock disorders. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the antibacterial, antifungal potentialities and phytochemical screening of the different leaves and stem extracts of Andrographis macrobotrys belongs to the family Acanthaceae. Methanol, ethanol, chloroform, acetone and petroleum ether extracts of shade dried plant leaf and stem of A. macrobotrys were tested for antibacterial, antifungal properties and phytochemical analysis. The antibacterial potential of different extracts of leaves and stem of A. macrobotrys were assayed using the standard disc diffusion manner against five strains of bacterial species, viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Among various solvent extracts evaluated, the petroleum ether leaf extract showed highest antibacterial assay against Staphylococcus aureus (18.11mm); followed by ethanol extract (15.41mm). The highest inhibition zone noted for methanol extract of A. macrobotrys leaves against P.vulgaris 15.13mm followed by chloroform extract (13.81 mm). The highest activity of acetone extract against K. pneumoniae was 12.90 mm. The chloroform leaf extract A. macrobotrys showed highest antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata (9.45 mm). The ethanol leaf extracts showed maximum activity against Aspergillus niger (9.10 mm). The methanol leaf extracts showed highest activity against Aspergillus flavus (8.15 mm). Acetone leaf extracts showed significant maximum activity against Penicillium pinophilum (7.39 mm). Petroleum ether leaf extracts showed maximum activity against Fusarium solani (7.11 mm). The leaf extracts showed great inhibitory effect than the stem extracts. Results showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, glycosides, gums and mucilages, steroids, tannins and phenolic compounds. This is the first report on antibacterial antifungal potentialities and phytochemical analysis of A. macrobotroys. This research scientifically validates the utilize of this plant as a potential antibacterial and antifungal properties.