PHYTOCHEMICAL, FLUORESCENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF POLY HERBAL EXTRACT

Background and Objectives: Natural products and traditional medicines are of great importance. Such forms of medicine as traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Kampo, traditional Korean medicine, and Unani havebeen practiced in some areas of the world and have blossomed into orderly-regulated systems of medicine. Allium sativum L., crude drug (Liliaceae) used as herbal medicine to treat hyperglycemia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stress and infections. Malus domestica B., fruit (Rosaceae) possess antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity and used for the treatment and prevention of asthma, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Capsicum annum L., crude drug (Solanaceae) is used as anti-diabetic, anti cancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial agent. Foeniculum vulgare M., crude drug (Apiaceae) is used as antioxidant, antimicrobial, bronchodilatory, estrogenic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective and hypotensive agent. Curcuma longa L., crude drug (Zingiberaceae) is used various biological actions including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antifertility, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, antiulcer and antimicrobial. Methodology: In the current study these five medicinal plants were purchased, authenticated and extracted by method of maceration. In this research work phytochemical screening, fluorescence analysis, antimicrobial (disc diffusion method) for both antibacterial (gram positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus lutes and gram-negative bacteria such as Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli) and antifungal (Candida albican, and Aspergillus flavus), activity was performed in comparison with ciprofloxacin (standard disc for bacteria) and nystatin (standard disc for fungus). Results: Phytochemical evaluation indicates the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, phenol, resin and saponins. The poly herbal extract is moderately effective against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus lutes), active against gram negative bacteria (Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli) and is less susceptible against Bacillus subtilis. It is active against Aspergillus flavus and Candida albican. Conclusion: The medicinal plants are effective to provide defense against microorganisms.