Evaluation of phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of ficus auriculata lour. (moraceae) – an traditional medicinal plant

Abstract

Ficus auriculata is a huge tropical, deciduous and evergreen tree is cultivated in India for its edible fruits and also this plant fruits have been used for the treatment of diabetes, asthma, male and female infertility by Malayali tribals in Yercaud hills. The main aim of this study was to screening of phytochemical properties of the fruit of this plant and also evaluated their potency. The investigation of phytochemical has been done by chemical tests and using some chemical reagents and it showed the presence of various classes of compounds such as carbohydrates, glycosides, phenolic compounds and Tannins, alkaloids, proteins and amino acids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, phytosterols and fixed oils and fat and absence of Anthraquinones. This study summarizes the information concerning the bioactive constituents present in methanol fruit extract which may be responsible for various therapeutically effects. Phenol content of the fruit extract was 1.03mg/g dr.wt, flavonoids content of the fruit extract was 0.64mg/g dr. wt., and alkaloids content was 0.15 mg/g dr.wt.  The antibacterial activity of the extracts was established by disc diffusion method and the extract showed a clear zone of inhibition against Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus epidermidies, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genetalium and Pseudonomos aeruginosa. The methanolic fruit extract of the F. auriculata showed a wide range of activity against all the bacterial studied. The zone of inhibition increased with the increase in concentration. Highest activity was seen in Mycoplasma genetalium and Staphylococcus epidermidies in a concentration of 60 µg. the results provide justification for the use of F. auriculata in folk medicine to treat various infectious disease.