PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF KEDROSTIS FOETIDISSIMA (JACQ.) COGN.

Hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts of leaf, stem and tuber of Kedrostis foetidissima were tested for qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis. The results of K. foetidissima leaf extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids and steroids in all extracts studied. Flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, phenols, steroids, glycosides and cardiac glycosides are present in the chloroform, methanol and acetone extracts while saponin were detected only in methanol and acetone extract. The various extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activities. Antibacterial activities of the extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated by using disc diffusion method. It was observed that, chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts of leaf, stem and tuber of Kedrostis foetidissima showed activity against the entire tested gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains. Inhibitory effect of 100% concentration of petroleum ether and hexane extract was observed against Serratia marcesense (7.05; 4.00mm), Staphylococcus aureus (5.67; 6.83mm), Escherichia coli (4.93; 4.40mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.15; 3.50mm). Hence, this plant can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in the development of new pharmaceuticals that address unmet therapeutic use.