PJB-2018-750
SCREENING OF ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT (COCOS NUCIFERA) ) AS A SOLUTION TO ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
SYEDA HIRA BUKHARI1
Abstract
Cocos nucifera (L.) belongs to palm family Arecaceae is known to be helpful in treating physiological disorders (diarrhea, amenorrhea, asthma, antipyretic, kidney inflammation, diuretics) as well as infectious diseases (gonorrhea and venereal treatment, rashes caused by HIV-AIDS infections). It is also identified to have antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory activities. As common pathogens get resistant day-by-day against over-the-counter medicines hence that medicines need to be replaced by natural products is todays priority. Thin layer chromatography, qualitative phytochemical test and disc diffusion method were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Cocos nucifera (L.) extract against Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. TLC analysis of coarse coconut shell extract shows that fine extract of shell sample found to be more effective for extraction of phytochemicals. Coconut shell is rich in phytochemical (alkaloid, reducing sugar, saponins, tannins, flavonoid, terpenoids, resins and sterol) while phenols quinones and proteins are absent in coconut shell. Reducing sugar, tannins, flavonoid, terpenoid, resins, sterols, phenol and quinones are major phytochemical constituent of coconut leaves while alkaloid, protein, and saponins were absent. Coconut shell extracts shows significant activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, and Shigella dysenteriae. The study concluded that rich in phytochemical compounds and strong antimicrobial activity against pathogenic cultures make coconut plant the most suitable substitute in contrast to various drugs. Keywords: Cocos nucifera (L.), Antimicrobial activity, Phytochemicals, Natural remedies, biomass utilization
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