Phytochemical Screening and Biological Activity of Calotropis Procera (Ait). R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) Against Selected Bacteria and Anopheles stephansi Larvae

The ethanol extracts of flowers, young bud, mature leaves and stems of Calotropis procera (Ait). R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) was screened for phytochemical properties, antimicrobial (agar dilution method) activity and effectiveness on third instar larvae of Anopheles stephansi. Qualitative estimation of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, proteins, fixed oils, starch, triterpenoid, phenolics and tannins showed their presence in almost all the plant part extracts. While, gum and mucilage were absent in all the plant extracts. Quantitative estimation of different parts of the plant extracts had large quantity of carbohydrate and tannin in flower while young buds had higher amount of phenolic compounds and oil. Mature leaves showed maximum activity against all the bacterial strain used in the study. The extracts of mature leaves showed highest activity of 100% mortality at 2000 ppm after 48 hours of incubation against 3rd instar larvae of A. stephansi. LD50 and LD90 values suggested that mature leaves of C. procera had higher mortality rate against larvae of A. stephansi.