PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL SCREENING OF SANTALUM ALBUM SEEDS EXTRACTS

Objective : Present study aimed phytochemical evaluation and antimicrobial screening of petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of Santalum album seeds. Methods : Petroleum ether and ethanol extracts were screened for presence of chemical constituents. Petroleum ether extract was investigated detail by using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. In vitro antimicrobial activity of both extracts were investigated using disc diffusion method on two gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus , gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and fungus Candida albicans. Results : Santalbic acid was identified in petroleum ether extract and content determined by HPTLC was 4.7%w/w. It was seen that petroleum ether extract have MIC value for B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and C. albicans were 78.125 µg/ml, 19.331 µg/ml, 625 µg/ml & 39.062 µg/ml respectively while MBC was 39.062 µg/ml, 4.882 µg/ml, 312.5 µg/ml & 9.765 µg/ml,  respectively. Petroleum ether extract showed MIC and MBC values for S. aureus was similar as 156.25µg/ml. So, the petroleum ether extract showed significant antimicrobial activity against both gram positive, gram negative and fungal strain. Conclusions : The results of present investigations were indicative of possible high potency of petroleum ether extract due to santalbic acid which could serve as chemotherapeutic agent.