Preliminary Phytochemical Testing and Antimicrobial activity of Calotropis procera leaves.

Naturally found plants have become the boon to the field of herbal science and medicine. For the detection of bioactive principles present in the medicinally important plants, a preliminary screening of the phytochemicals is the valuable step which may lea drug discovery and development. In this study, chief phytoconstituents from the leaves and roots of Calotropis procera were identified and further antimicrobial activity was studied. Calotropis procera was performed for the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, proteins and terpenoids using standard methods. It was found that extracts showed the presence of carbohydrates and saponins. Alkaloids, proteins and tannins presence was seen in methanol and acetone extracts. Further, flavonoids presence was seen in the methanol and aqueous extracts. The aqueous, methanolic, acetone solvents extract was prepared to test antimicrobial activity taking E. coli. The prepared extracts were subjected to antimicrobial activity against agar well diffusion method where Polymyxin coli was taken as a control. Methanol, acetone and aqueous extract showed a zone of inhibition of 9.5mm, 4mm and 6mm respectively.