Phytochemical Screening and In vitro antibacterial activity of Petroleum Ether extract of Ageratum conyzoides

This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of Ageratum conyzoides petroleum ether extract. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, Terpenoids, and Saponins, which are known for their therapeutic properties. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria using the agar well diffusion method. The various concentrations of petroleum ether leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides demonstrated significant antibacterial effects, 400 µg/ml showed ZOI 13.5 mm against E. coli and 600 µg/ml showed the highest ZOI 12.5 and 12 mm against S. aureus and S. pneumonia respectively, while 1000 µg/ml concentrations, showed the highest ZOI of 12mm against the K. pneumonia. These findings highlight the potential of Ageratum conyzoides petroleum ether extract as a natural source of antibacterial agents and support its traditional use in herbal medicine. Further studies are recommended to isolate and characterize the active compounds responsible for the observed antibacterial properties.