Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activities of Atalantia monophylla (L) Correa and Atalantia racemosa Wight and Arn

Background: Infectious diseases are major leading cause of death in all parts of the world, because of the appearance of new multi drug resistant microbes. Therefore, the discovery of potential drug for effective treatment will help the slaughter of the microbes. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the presence of photochemical and antimicrobial activities of various crude extracts of leaves, fruits and root bark of Atalantia monophylla and Atalantia racemosa against human pathogens by using well diffusion method. Methods: Antimicrobial properties of the various extracts of Atalantia monophylla and Atalantia racemosa were studied against some human pathogenic microbes such as Gram-positive Bacteria, (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus) Gram-negative Bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and human opportunistic fungal pathogens (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger). All the extracts were comparable with standard drugs (Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Nystatin. and Amphotericin B). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal /fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) values were determined through a microdilution method. The phytochemical analysis of these plant extracts were carried out using standard mthods. Results: Methanolic leaf extract of A. monophylla has showed excellent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (40mm). As well, the A. racemosa methanolic leaf extract shows notable inhibitory activity against S. aureus (38mm). At the same time, the least inhibition was observed in aqueous extract of A. monophylla against E.coli (9mm). The MIC ranged from 0.78 µg/mL to 50 µg/mL and MBC/MFC 1.56 to 50 µg/mL were recorded. Phytochemical analysis of alkaloids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phenolics and cardiae glycoside were recorded in various extracts of A. monophylla and A. racemosa respectively. Flavonoids, phenolics and cardiac glycoside were present only in methonalic leaf extract of A. monophylla. Conclusion: The result of this study concluded that methanolic leaf extract has possessed novel compounds with significant antimicrobial properties. Hence, we recommend this plant for further studies on the isolation and characterization of that lead antimicrobial potential molecule.