HISTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF LAMIACEAE PLANTS (ANISOMELES INDICA O. KZE, HYPTIS SUAVOLENS POIT, LEONOTIS NEPETAEFOLIA R. BR., AND LEUCAS ASPERA SPR)

Dr. C. Sathya* and A. Phawa

ABSTRACT

Four Lamiaceae family plants were selected (Anisomeles indica O. Kze, Hyptis suavolens Poit, Leonotis nepetaefolia R. Br., and Leucas aspera Spr.) and secondary metabolites like alkaloids, ascorbic acids, tannins, polyphenols and terepenoids were identified using histochemical methods. Stem hand sections were treated with respective reagents and the colour indication proved the presence of respective compounds. Alkaloid showed higher concentration, tannins showed moderate concentration, while terpenoid showed lower concentration. Antimicrobial screening was conducted using ethanolic leaf extracts of these plants. Two ml of leaf extracts were introduced into 10 ml of Nutrient Agar Medium. Clinical strains of bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pneumoniae were inoculated using streak plate method. L. nepetaefolia was most effective against the four microbes than the other leaf extracts.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Histochemical methods, Secondary metabolites.