Determination of Phytoconstituents and Antimicrobial activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves

Abstract

Neem (Azadirachta Indica)is a plant that has been used as traditional medicine for a household remedy against various human ailments since ancient times. The objective of this study was to determine the phytoconstituents and antimicrobial activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of A. indica leaves. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis was carried out using the standard method of Association of Official Analytical Chemist and the antimicrobial activity of the concentrated extracts was evaluated by determination of the diameter of zone of inhibition against the microorganisms using the agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of the leaves gave a positive result for saponins, tannins, steroids, glycoside, terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The antimicrobial results show that both plant extracts had antimicrobial activity against the test organisms, the aqueous extracts were found to show the greater antimicrobial effect on Shigellasp (10.0±1.0 mm), Staphylococcus sp (10.0±1.0 mm), Penicilliumsp (9.2±0.8 mm) and Mould (10.2±1.3 mm) while methanol extract shows maximum efficacy on E. coli (26±1.0 mm), Vibrio sp (10.6±0.6 mm) and Yeast (9.2±0.3 mm). Therefore, these findings support the traditional knowledge of local users and it is a preliminary, scientific, validation for the use of neem leaves for the antimicrobial activity to promote proper conservation and sustainable use of the plant resources.