EC Microbiology

This research was done to ascertain phytochemistry, antimicrobial and anti-hyperglycemic activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum extracts in an animal model. It also involves the discovering and identifying plants with antimicrobial properties without severe effects for the treatment of diabetes mellitus has become an important goal of research in biomedical science. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses of Bryophyllum pinnatum were evaluated. Qualitative analysis showed that the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum were rich in flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Tannin gave the lowest percentage yield of 0.36% for both the aqueous and methanol extract while cardiac glycoside gave the highest percentage yield of 65% for the aqueous extract. The methanol and aqueous leaf extracts were screened for their antimicrobial activities against Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and a fungus (Candida albicans). Agar well diffusion method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration at 100 mg/ ml, 200 mg/ml and 400 mg/ml. All organisms except Candida albicans were susceptible to the extracts. The gram negative organisms were not inhibited by the aqueous extracts of B. pinnatum. The antidiabetic potential of both extracts of the plant was evaluated in the alloxan monohydrate induced-diabetic albino rats. Graded doses of the aqueous and methanol extracts were administered to experimental diabetic rats for 10 days. Significant reduction in fasting blood sugar was obtained in the diabetic animals. There was significant differences in the mean values of the parameters evaluated at P < 0.05 for the methanol-extract treated rats.

 Keywords: Phytochemistry; Anti-Hyperglycemic; B. pinnatum; Antimicrobial; Anti-Diabetic

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