TO STUDY ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PLANT EXTRACTS OF ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA NEES

Mrs. M. Mohanapriya* and R. Manivannan

The locals frequently utilise the plant Andrographis paniculata Nees, which belongs to the Acanthaceae family, to treat skin infections, liver illnesses, common colds, and snake bites. The phytochemical qualities and antibacterial activity of the plant's aerial portion were examined. The antibacterial properties of leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata was investigated utilising a variety of solvents, including water, methanol, petroleum ether, and chloroform, against bacterial strains using the disc diffusion method, including Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The highest inhibitory activity was demonstrated by methanolic extract against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, respectively. The active components found in the plant were identified by the results of the phytochemical screening as steroids, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids. Traditionally, the herb has been used to treat antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antipyretic, hepatoprotective as well as a number of infectious illnesses, such as dysentery and malaria. The active components of this plant, andrographolide and neoandrographolide, which are derived from diterpenoids, are give its therapeutic benefit.