Screening of Antimicrobial Potential and Phytoconsituents for Different Extracts of Memecylon umbellatum Burm Inflorescences

The plant Memecylon umbellatum Burm is small tree or shrub with beautiful purple inflorescences. Various other parts of the plant were studied for different medicinal properties but no scientific data on inflorescence except the description about its beauty and photographs. Hence in the present work efforts have been made to investigate antimicrobial properties and phytochemical screening of the inflorescence.

Six different extracts with non polar and polar solvents were screened for antimicrobial activity by cylinder cup plate method using standard cultures (ATCC), MIC by serial broth dilution and phytochemical screening was made with different chemical reagents. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts have shown better activities compare to other extracts and were found significant compare to control and standard at tested concentrations. MIC for ethyl acetate and methanol extract was found at 0.5mg for most of the test organisms compare to 3 and 6mg for other extracts. All other extracts have shown very weak activity as compare to standard even at higher concentrations. Most of the non polar extracts showed almost negligible anti fungal and very weak antibacterial activities. Different extracts showed presence of tannins, glycosides, triterpens and steroids as important constituents.