ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF LEAF AND PERICARP EXTRACTS OF POLYALTHIA LONGIFOLIA (ANNONACEAE)

The present study was conducted with an aim of determining antimicrobial activity of leaf and pericarp (ripe and unripe) extracts of P olyalthia longifolia (Annonaceae). The leaf, ripe pericarp and unripe pericarp were shade dried and extracted using methanol in soxhlet assembly. Antibacterial activity of leaf and pericarp extracts was determined against Staphylococcus aureus , Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae by Agar well diffusion assay. Antifungal activityof leaf and pericarp extracts was tested against Sclerotium rolfsii by Poisoned food technique. The extracts were effective against S. aureus to higher extent when compared to Gram negative bacteria. The extracts caused marked inhibition of mycelial growth of S. rolfsii . Unripe pericarp extract exhibited marked inhibition of bacteria and fungus when compared to other extracts. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of extracts reve aled the presence of flavonoids, tannins, steroids and glycosides in leaf and pericarp extracts. The observed inhibitory potential could be ascribed to the presence of secondary metabolites in the extracts. The leaf and pericarp of P. longifolia can be exp loited for the development of potent antimicrobial agents.