Phytochemicals and Antibacterial Activities of Leaf Extract of Tridax procumbens Linn. On Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used as remedies for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. Plants serve as the greatest source to obtain new antimicrobials. An increasing interest in herbal remedies has been observed in several parts of the world. Tridax procumbens Linn. commonly known as ‘coat button’ is a weed and a pest plant. Previous researches have shown that the plant has antimicrobial activities and pharmacological effects. This study aimed at evaluating the phytochemical compounds and antibacterial activities of the leaf extract of Tridax procumbens. Leaf ethanol and water extracts were used in this study. The test organisms were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antibacterial assay was performed by disc diffusion method. Treatment extract concentrations were 250mg/ml, 200mg/ml, 100mg/ml and 50mg/ml and distilled water (negative control) and an antibiotic Amphicloxa (positive control). Each treatment was replicated three times. The leaf extract was tested for the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and glycosides. The plates were examined for zones of inhibitions. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance. Treatments were separated and compared using LSD at P < 0.05. Both ethanol and water extracts were biologically active against the two microbes. Ethanol extract showed greater inhibition (9.29 mm) in comparison to water extract (7.19 mm). Escherichia coli showed greater susceptibility as compared to Staphycoccus aureus. The phytochemical screening of the leaf extract of Tridax procumbens revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and glycosides. It is possible that the growth inhibition observed in the study occurred due to the presence of these different chemical compounds. From these findings, ethanolic and water extracts of the leaf of Tridax procumbens Linn. showed a good potential as a source of new drug for treating infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.