PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF Acalypha fruticosa FORSSK., LEAVES

Acalypha fruticosa Forssk. [Family Euphorbiaceae] commonly known as ‘Chinnichedi’ and ‘Birch-leaved.A. fruticosa is a strong smelling bushy shrub traditionally used to treat dyspepsia, stomachache, skin diseases, wounds and poisonous bites. In the present study, the phytochemicals of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of Acalypha fruticosa were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The phytochemicals of the ethanol and aqueous leaf extract of Acalypha fruticosa reaveled that the presence of triterpenoids, steroids, saponins, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycoside and coumarins respectively. Quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents in the powdered samples of Acalypha fruticosa showed that flavonoids were present in high amount when compared to alkaloids, tannins, phenols and saponins. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanol leaves extractof Acalypha fruticosa using the standard disc diffusion method against three pathogens. Among the three organisms, Staphyloccocus aureus showed maximum zone of inhibition followed by E. coli and Candida albicans respectively.