Abstract

Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial investigation of Typha angustifolia Linn

Author(s): Alexeyena Varghese, Usha Gavani, Suja Abraham, Della Grace Thomas Parambi, Sathianarayanan and Asha Jose

Typha angustifolia of the family typhaceae is commonly known as elephant grass. It is mainly used in folk remedies for the treatment of tumours, as anticoagulant, astringent, sedative and tonics. The present study was to isolate and characterise phytochemical constituents and to find out the anti-microbial activity of the extract and isolated compounds of Typha angustifolia. The powdered material was defatted with petroleum ether followed by the extraction of mark by using Soxhlet extraction process. The extract was dried and concentrated and was used for further investigation. Dried extract showed the presence of alkaloids, sterols and flavanoids. Then the extract was subjected to isolation of chemical substance by column chromatography. Two compounds were isolated from methanolic extract and these were characterised by IR, MS and spectro polarimeter. The characterisation report showed the presence of nonacosanol and lupeol acetate. The methanolic extracts and the isolated compounds were subjected to the antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi like Aspergillus flavus, Serratia, E. coli, Listeria and Staphylococcus aureus by disc diffusion method. It was compared with standard drug (ciprofloxacin, griseofulvin). Methanolic extract and isolated compounds were found to possess potent antibacterial and antifungal activity.