This study aims at the attributes of the Annona reticulata and its medical and biological value.
Annona reticulata belongs to the family Annonaceae, commonly known as honey apple. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of chloroform and water extracts of Annona reticulata fruit, leaf and stem bark was conducted in order to detect the presence of various secondary metabolites using standard procedures. The results of phytochemical screening indicated the presence of secondary metabolites such as tannins, betacyanins, carbohydrates, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, quinines, saponins, cardiac glycosides etc. Also the comparative antimicrobial activity of chloroform and water extracts of fruit, leaf and stem bark of Annona reticulata was evaluated against four bacterial species namely, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens and Micrococcus luteus and two fungal species namely Candida albicans and Rhizopus. Agar well diffusion method and disc diffusion method were selected to check the antimicrobial activities of the extracts. The study revealed that the chloroform extracts of leaf, stem bark and fruit of Annona reticulata has activity against the bacterial strains and fungal strains. Whereas, the water extracts of leaf, fruit and stem bark of Annona reticulata has more activity towards the fungal species. The findings of this study have identified that Annona reticulata extracts acts as a promising source of antimicrobial agent which could be useful in the modern medicine.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Scope of the study
1.3 Taxonomical classification
2. Review of literature
2.1 Uses and importance
3. Hypothesis
4. Materials and Methods
4.1 Study area
4.2 Sample collection
4.3 Preparation of extract
4.4 Phytochemical analysis
4.5 Isolation of microorganisms and mass culture
4.6 Antimicrobial activity
4.7 Antimicrobial susceptibility testing
4.8 Statistical analysis
5. Results and discussion
5.1 Phytochemical screening
5.2 Antibacterial susceptibility tests
6. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to investigate the phytochemical composition and evaluate the antimicrobial potential of leaf, fruit, and stem bark extracts of Annona reticulata, using both chloroform and water as solvents, to determine their efficacy against selected bacterial and fungal strains.
- Qualitative phytochemical screening of various Annona reticulata plant parts.
- Comparative analysis of antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
- Evaluation of solvent extraction efficiency for secondary metabolites.
- Assessment of antibacterial and antifungal susceptibility using agar diffusion methods.
- Exploration of Annona reticulata as a natural source for potential therapeutic agents.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
According to the world health organization (WHO) survey 80% populations living in the developing countries rely almost exclusively on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. Exploration of the chemical constituents of the plants and pharmacological screening may provide us the basis for developing the leads for development of novel agents. In addition, herbs have provided us some important life saving drugs used in armamentarium of modern medicine. However among the estimated 2,50,000-4,00,000 plant species, only 6% have been studied for biological activity and about 15% have been investigated phytochemically (Cragg et al.,1997; Balsndrin et al., 1985; Pandey and Barve 2011). The therapeutic efficacy of many indigenous plants, for various diseases has been described by traditional herbal medicinal practitioners (Gami, 2010; Soni et al., 2011). There are several reasons that people use plants for medication. This includes improvement of health after herbal treatment, low cost of the drugs, non availability of synthetic drugs particularly in the rural areas, where available were either fake or expired drugs and in some cases the people are more accustomed to and comfortable with traditional healing (Audu, 1995).
Various parts of plants such as leaves, fruits, barks, roots and even the seeds are being used for preparation of medicine. Plants produce several secondary metabolite compounds including alkaloids, glycosides, glucosinolates, flavanoids, saponins, steroids and terpenoids to protect themselves from the continuous attack of naturally occurring pathogens, insect pests and environmental stresses (Ebel, 1986). With advances in analytical instrumentation, bioassay techniques and recombinant DNA technology, the scope of using these antimicrobial compounds for disease control was further enhanced. The use of plant extracts with antimicrobial activity offers an economical, safe and easily available alternative method for the management of diseases. In the recent past, several plant species have been screened for antimicrobial activity and extract purified compounds from these plants were found to have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity (Grayer and Harborne, 1994).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the global reliance on traditional medicine and the necessity of exploring medicinal plants for novel antimicrobial agents.
2. Review of literature: Covers existing research on antibiotic resistance, the role of medicinal plants, and the specific characteristics of Annona reticulata.
3. Hypothesis: Outlines the premise that phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial properties vary across different plant parts and extraction solvents.
4. Materials and Methods: Details the study area, sample collection, the Soxhlet extraction process, and the specific qualitative and antimicrobial test procedures used.
5. Results and discussion: Presents the findings of the phytochemical screening and the antibacterial/antifungal susceptibility tests, comparing results across different extracts.
6. Conclusions: Synthesizes the study findings and highlights the potential of Annona reticulata as a source for medicinal compounds.
Keywords
Annona reticulata, phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial activity, secondary metabolites, solvent extraction, antibacterial susceptibility, antifungal, medicinal plants, Soxhlet extractor, plant extracts, traditional medicine, pathogen control, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the qualitative phytochemical analysis and the evaluation of antimicrobial activities of Annona reticulata plant parts (leaf, fruit, stem bark) using chloroform and water as solvents.
What are the central themes of the work?
The work centers on identifying secondary metabolites in plant extracts and testing their capability to inhibit the growth of specific bacterial and fungal pathogens.
What is the main objective or research question?
The objective is to study the presence of secondary metabolites in the extracts and to determine their antimicrobial efficacy against bacterial and fungal strains using agar well and disc diffusion methods.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study utilizes the Soxhlet extraction technique for sample preparation, standard qualitative chemical tests for phytochemical analysis, and agar well/disc diffusion assays for assessing antimicrobial activity.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section covers detailed experimental methodologies, statistical analysis of results, and a thorough discussion on the antibacterial and antifungal activities observed across the different solvent extracts.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Annona reticulata, phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial activity, secondary metabolites, and various specific pathogen names like E. coli and Candida albicans.
How were the plant parts prepared for the study?
The plant parts were surface-sterilized with 70% ethanol, shade-dried for 10 days, ground into powder using a mechanical grinder, and then subjected to solvent extraction using a Soxhlet apparatus.
Which microorganisms were tested for susceptibility?
The bacterial strains tested include Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Micrococcus luteus, while the fungal strains were Candida albicans and Rhizopus.
What was the key finding regarding chloroform extracts?
The study found that chloroform extracts of Annona reticulata exhibited significant antibacterial activity, in some cases performing better than the commercial antibiotics used as controls.
- Citation du texte
- Dr. Prem Jose Vazhacharickal (Auteur), Sajeshkumar N.K (Auteur), Jiby John Mathew (Auteur), Clemency Tomy (Auteur), 2016, The Honey Apple and its phytochemical analysis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/359168
