Screening of an ethnomedicinal plant crinum asiaticum l. leaves extract for their antimicrobial, antioxidant and phytochemical analysis against ear infection

Abstract

Evaluation for susceptibility of herbal medicine for pathogens is significant way of treatment. Crinum asiaticum Linn. belongs to the family �Amaryllidaceae� was collected from Haridwar and authenticated by Botanical Survey of India, Dehradun. The present study aims to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial assessment of leaves extract of Crinum asiaticum against selected ear pathogens i.e. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, and A. flavus. The leaves of the plant were thoroughly washed, shade dried and crushed with electric grinder. The grinded material was used to prepare extract with four different solvents i.e. petroleum ether, acetone, methanol and water by using Soxhlet apparatus. C. asiaticum leaves extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activities. The results showed that methanol extract was most effective followed by acetone, petroleum ether and water. The Minimum inhibitory concentration of methanol extract was found effective against H. influenzae (1.56mg/ml) followed by S. pneumoniae and S. epidermidis (3.12 mg/ml). The fungitoxic effects of the methanol extract on the mycelial growth of test fungi was determined which is found above 600 �g/ml. In a comparative study, antibiotics and antifungal drugs found most effective than ayurvedic drugs and crude methanol extracts. Antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Crinum asiaticum leaves was found lower than ascorbic acid assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Phytochemicals analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, phenol, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoid and tannins. The study indicates that leaves of Crinum asiaticum has antimicrobial potential and can be used for therapeutic purpose.