In vitro effect of preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial activities of mirabilis jalapa

The present study was aimed to identify the antibacterial activities of Mirabilis jalapa chloroform extract against bacterial and fungal pathogens viz., Escherichia coli, S. epidermidis¬, K. pneumonia, C. freunndii, S. marcescens, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, S. aureus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus sp. In this study, the maximum zone of inhibition was identified with Escherichia coli; this was followed by S. marcescens, Bacillus subtilis and K. pneumonia. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of flavanoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannin & phenols, carbohydrate and amino acid compounds with chloroform extract. It is concluded from the present findings that, the chloroform extract of M. jalapa can be used as potential antibacterial agents after completion of clinical trials.