నైరూప్య

Pharmacognostic Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Rotula aquatica Lour

Bhagyashri K Joshi, N Lakshmi Devi

The present work is focused on the preliminary characterization of phytochemical constituents of R aquatica and analyzing for its antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Roots and stem of R aquatica collected from river beds was dried and the phytochemicals were extracted using various solvents. Pharmacognostic investigation of the extract was carried out by standard method. Methanolic extract showing maximum phytochemicals was analyzed for inhibitory activity against selected bacterial and fungal culture. According to the result obtained, methanolic extract showed the presence of flavonoides, tannin, saponin, terpenoids, phenolic compound and glycosides. The extract showed inhibitory activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria as well as Candida sp indicating the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. MIC values were between 62.5-250 mg/ml for the pathogens tested. Overall the results indicate the potency of R aquatica extract in inhibiting the pathogens tested for wider application as microbicidal agent.