PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF TULSI PLANT

Abstract

Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Tulsi plant (Ocimum sanctum) was studied in the present investigation. Medicinal plants and 
herbs have been proved to be of great importance to the health of the individuals and communities. The results of the phytochemical screening of 
aqueous and methanol in Tulsi leaves extract showed the presence of bioactive components such as tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, 
steroids and terpenoids. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaves extract against two bacterial species, Escherichia 
coli and Staphylococcus aureus and two fungal species, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp were carried out by disc diffusion method. The methanolic 
extract of tulsi leaves had significant inhibitory effect against both the bacterial species but slightly higher rate of inhibition was recorded in gram 
negative bacteria, Escherichia coli by methanolic Tulsi leaves extract than gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. The Tulsi leaves extract had 
significant inhibitory effect against both the fungal species but slightly higher rate of inhibition was recorded in Penicillium sp. by Tulsi leaves extract 
than Aspergillus niger. Thus to conclude from the study that tulsi leaves extract (Ocimum sanctum) has antibacterial and antifungal activities as 
evidenced in the present study. These encouraging results provides useful information for designing a much better antimicrobial compound using a 
Tulsi plant leaves extract with minimal side effects.