Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Studies of Leaves

Purpose: Cassia auriculata Linn (Caesalpinaceae) popularly known, as Tarval. Cassia auriculata leaf extracts have shown hepatoprotective activity against alcohol induced liver injury and antimicrobial activity phytochemical analysis carried out revealed the presence of coumarins, flavanoids, glycosides, phenols, tannins,saponins and steroids. The results provide justification for the use of the leaves extract antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi were used for the study. Methods: Pharmacognostic characterization: In the present study pulverized dried Cassia auriculata Linn leaves were investigated for its physical constant (LOD, ash value, fluorescence analysis). Microscopic study: The fresh leaf of Cassia auriculata Linn was studied for microscopical characterization which shows different parts like upper and lower epidermis, palisade cells, spongy parenchyma in lamina region while Collenchyma and vascular bundles were observed in midrib region. The pulverized dried Cassia auriculata Linn leaves were extracted with ethanol using soxhlet apparatus. The powder of Cassia auriculata Linn leaves were also macerated with chloroform water. The antimicrobial activity of the concentrated extracts were evaluated by determination of the diameter of zone of inhibition against both gram negative and gram positive bacteria using agar disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results: Results of the phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, tannins and the extracts were active against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Conclusions: The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Cassia auriculata Linn leaves were studied for antimicrobial activity, of which ethanolic extract shows significant results.