D.S. Wadavkar, P.N. Nagane, S.V. Gaikwad, A.B. Kadam and S.A. Kulkarni
Abstract
The present study indicates the biochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of the folk medicinal plant Leucas urticifolia (Vahl) Sm. (Family-Lamiaceae). The primary biochemical analysis showed that it is rich in phytochemicals which are extractable in methanol. The qualitative biochemical analysis showed the presence of nine compounds. The quantitative analysis of medicinal plant has revealed the presence of different compounds like reducing sugar, carbohydrate, starch, total amino acids, proteins and chlorophyll pigments. In the given species the concentrations of chlorophyll-a (1.84 mg/g fresh weight) are more than chlorophyllb (1.32 mg/g of fresh weight). The total amino acids content was estimated to be 19.4 ± 0.32 mg/g and protein content was found to be 7.6 ± 0.32 mg/g in Leucas urticifolia. The starch content (10.4 ± 0.16 mg/g) was found to be higher than the reducing sugars (1.84 ± 0.03 mg/g). The carbohydrate content was estimated to be 11.06 ± 0.01 mg/g in L. urticifolia. The antimicrobial activity of the plant extract with zone of inhibition against fungi like Fusarium oxysporum (0.8 ± 0.1 mm), Aspergillus niger (0.9 ± 0.4 mm), Trichoderma viride (0.8 ± 0.2 mm) and Penicillium notatum (1.0 ± 0.2) for methanolic extracts was found to be higher than the control. The results indicate that the biochemicals are present in higher quantities therefore this medicinal plant can be of pharmacological importance. This study also enlightens the antimicrobial potential of the medicinal plant L. urticifolia due to presence of these biochemicals.