Preliminary phytochemical evaluation and antibacterial studies on vitex Altissima L.

Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, chloroformand methanol leaf extracts of Vitex altissima was investigated. The extracts showed the presence of alkaloids saponins, sterols flavonoids, phenols, tritepenoids, tannins etc., at different concentrations. Antibacterial activity was tested against both gram +ve and gram -ve organisms. Among the extracts tested methanol leaf extract exhibited broad spectrum antibacterial activity against the tested organisms. Maximum activity is exhibited against Enterobacter aerogenes which was followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacillus cereus, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Alcaligenes faecalis, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Petroleumether and chloroformleaf extract exhibited less activity.