Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of Bombex ceiba

Abstract

Bombex ceiba is a traditional medicinal plant used by tribal people in treatment of different diseases. The present carried out for providing the scientific evidence of its traditional medicinal usage on antibacterial capacity and presence of different phytochemical constituents on B. ceiba seeds. Qualitative phytochemical screening, quantitative estimation of total phenolics and alkaloids was carried out using different standard test procedures and antibacterial activity was tested using cup plate method and measured its capacity on zone of inhibition measurement. The all extracts of B. ceiba revealed the presence of phenols, alkaloids, carbohydrates, steroids, terpenoids and glycosides and gave negative result to saponins. The hydroalcoholic and ethyl acetate extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids and tannins but the hexane extract gave negative results. The Quantified phenolic contents of B. ceiba extracts were ranging from 13.85±1.22 to 34.10±2.62 (mg/gm). The quantitative alkaloid content was ranging from 16.24±2.38 to 31.86±1.88 (mg/gm). All the extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate and hydroalcoholic) of selected medicinal plants at different concentrations (50µg, 100µg, 150µg and 200µg/cup) exhibited antibacterial activity along with standard drug (Rifampicin) against tested bacterial strains. Ethyl acetate and hydroalcoholic extract showed equal antibacterial activity on all bacterial strains.