Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Screening of Artocarpus altilis: Guyana Flora Extracts

Abstract

The plant material leaves of Artocarpus altilis (Breadfruit) were collected from university of Guyana road, Cummings lodge, Guyana.  Leaves were dried in oven at 50-55 ºC for 72 h.  The moisture content is calculated.  The dried leaves were grounded and extracted in each acetone, ethanol and   methanol solvents.  Extracts were collected and evaporation of solvent was done on rotavapour.  The respective solvent was added to viscous semi solid liquid extract to make up the desired volume of extract solution. The antimicrobial and antifungal activity of both plants were examined by well diffusion method, poison plate method, paper disc plate method and streak plate methods. In Artocarpus altilis leaves extract studies, maximum and minimum antimicrobial potential was observed for methanol and acetone solvent extracts, respectively. All plant extracts showed   antimicrobial potential toward the organisms Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The phytochemical analysis of methanol leaves extract of breadfruit tested positive for flavonoids, terpinoids, phenol, phlobatannins, steroids and phytosteroids and negative for tannins, saponins , alkaloids and cardiac glycosides.