Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of Muntingia calabura

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Muntingia calabura plant extracts. Methanol was used to prepare the extracts from plant parts like the Leaf, Fruit and Root. The Methanolic extracts had comparable efficacy to that of the standard, against Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC-3160), Escherichia coli (MTCC- 443), and fungal cultures of Aspergillus niger (MTCC-961), Aspergillus flavus (MTCC-3396). Phenolics, tannins, saponins, and flavonoids were found in large quantities in Root extract. The current study demonstrates that the solvent extract of M.calabura contains bioactive compounds that are useful in medicine, which supports the use of plant species as traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. Similarly, the zone of inhibition with the fungus was greater in the root extract of Muntingia calabura. This demonstrates its antiseptic property, which may have been caused by the components present.