PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS ANDANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF LEAF EXTRACT OF BAUHINIA LINN.: AN ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT

Various agents in medicinal plants are used in the same way as antibiotics in treatment of acquiring resistance in bacteria.The main objective of this study is to check out the bactericidal action of leaves of Bauhinia variegateLinnagainst medically important one Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and three gramnegative bacterial strains (Proteus vulgaris, S. typhi and E. coli) by the method of disc diffusion. This method showed 24mm maximum zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, 18.5mm against Proteus vulgaris, 20mm in Escherichia coli and 17.5 mm in Salmonella typhi.Zone of inhibition of extract was compared with standard antibiotic Cephalosporin.The phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract revealed many secondary metabolites existence,like flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, steroids, glycosides and anthraquinones. Various plants are considered medicinal importance as having microbial activity due to containing many secondary metabolites. So, the development of research achievements in pharmacy is enhanced due to naturally occurring bioactive compounds of these plants.