In vitro antibacterial activities of ethanolic extracted leaves of Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K.Schum [Thevetia Yellow]

Abstract: World is endowed with a rich wealth of medicinal plants. The studied plant Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum [Thevetia Yellow] is also one of the important medicinal as well as ornamental plant (Apocynaceae) commonly known as yellow oleander. The leaves of Thevetia Yellow were extracted with 95% ethanol and in aqueous by using Soxhlet Extraction Apparatus. The antibacterial activity was performed against gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative bacteria viz. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. The result showed that ethanolic and aqueous leaf extract of Thevetia Yellow, having strong antibacterial activities against the entire tested gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The phytochemical studies reveals the presence of alkaloids, essential oils, flavanoids, cardiac glycosides, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, saponins, tannins and terpenoids, which have proven to be potential antibacterial agents and medicinal utility of the plant. Thus Thevetia Yellow leaves may be utilized in the preparation of some newer antibiotics against tested bacteria.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Cardiac glycosides, Phytochemical analysis, Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum.