ANTI MICROBIAL AND CYTO TOXIC PROFILE CHANGES IN LEAF, STEM AND ROOT TISSUES OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA- POSHITA VARIETY.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial and cyto toxic properties of chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic crude extracts of leaves, stem and root of in vivo and in vitro of Withania somnifera poshita variety.The tests gave positive results regarding antimicrobial activity with inhibition zone diameter 7mm-23mm. Ethyl acetate extract of the leaf of in vitro grown plants showed maximum inhibition while, chloroform extract of the leaf of in vivo plant extracts gave inhibition zone with maximum diameter. Inthe case of fungal culture the methanol extract of root showed maximum antifungal activity. In the brine shrimp lethality test all the extract showed significant results. The demonstration of the lethality indicated the pharmacological activity of the plant like antitumor, antiviral and antibacterial etc. The phytochemical screening of fresh tissues revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Steroids, Phenolics, Tannins, Saponins and Quinones in in vivo and in vitro plant parts. The study confirmed antimicrobial and cytotoxic property of Withania somnifera var. Poshita and its potential as a source of plant based drugs.