Isolation and antimicrobial evaluation of various leaf extracts of Chromolaena odorata Linn. collected from nearby areas of Lathi village, Ganjam, Odisha

Traditionally, the Indian folk literature has been a rich depository of the beliefs, customs, superstitions, and knowledge of a diversified culture throughout the land amongst its subjects, transmitted in an oral mode and through observation. Such traditional knowledge based informations are preserved and passed on fromgeneration to generation. The documentation of traditional knowledge exclusively on the use of medicinal plants as on date acts as the source of many important drugs of modern day. Based on folklore uses of various plant parts, a detailed study on antimicrobial properties of various extracts as well as isolated compounds (first time reported) of the leaves of Chromolaena odorata Linn. was carried out with a view to justify its use as antimicrobial agent by the local inhabitants of Lathi village. Successive solvent extraction of the leaf powder of C. odorata was carried out as per the standard procedure using various solvents like, petroleum ether(40o–60oC),ethyl acetate and methanol. Preliminary phytochemical analysis, isolation of metabolites and antimicrobial activities of the extracts as well as selected isolated compounds were carried out. Selected bacteria (both gram positive and gram negative) and fungi were used in the present study to establish the antimicrobial potency ofvarious solvent extracts and isolated compounds of the leaves of C. odorata in comparison to the control standards.