Lantana camara: Phyto-constituents and Antimicrobial Activity Study

Background: The development of resistance by pathogenic organisms has caused renewed interest in medicinal plants as alternative antimicrobial agents in treating diseases and infections. Lantana camara is an evergreen shrub commonly found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, different parts of the plant have been used traditionally in the treatment of fever, diarrheal, scabies, cold, skin infections etc. This study therefore, seeks to investigate the phytochemical composition and potential of Lantana camara extracts as an alternative antimicrobial agents. Methods: According to standard methods in this study, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of Lantana camara leaves extracts was done. In vitro antimicrobial activity of the extract were evaluated against gram-positive and negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi) and fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspegillus fumigatus, Fusarium poae, and Fusarium solani) using well-diffusion and mycelia inhibition method, respectively. Results: Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed saponins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, and alkaloids, with tannins (70.454 ± 0.002 mg/g) found to be abundant in ethanolic extract. The extracts displayed moderate to high inhibitory activities on the tested strains with E.coli and A. flavus highly inhibited by the extracts. Conclusion: The present study clearly showed that the crude extracts are rich in diverse phytochemicals and are potential sources of antimicrobial principles that could be used in the management of diseases and infections.