PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA STEM AND ROOT EXTRACTS: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of Achyranthes aspera (Prickly Chaff) and to study their effectiveness  against the test microorganisms. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected as test microorganisms.  The Achyranthes aspera (Prickly Chaff) plants were gathered by the researchers at the Adventist University of the Philippines campus. The roots and stem of Achyranthes aspera were dried using a multi-commodity heat pump dryer.  The dried powdered roots and stem were sent to the Chemical and Testing Division of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for extraction. The generated root and stem extracts were tested for phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial  activity. The antimicrobial testing conducted to test the inhibitory activity of the Achyranthes Aspera roots and stem extract on the three microorganisms using the Disc agar diffusion method or Kirby – Bauer Test. Levofloxacin and Clindamycin 2 ug/ml were used as positive control of standard drugs. The results of the phytochemical  test showed the following plant constituents: flavonoids and triterpenes which are the most abundant, followed by saponins and glycosides which showed the moderate amount and lastly, sterols, tannins, and alkaloids which revealed traces in Achyranthes Aspera (Prickly Chaff) roots and stem extract. For the antimicrobial activity test, the results revealed that the Achyranthes Aspera (Prickly Chaff) roots and stem extract produced a zone inhibition of 10 mm and complete inhibitory activity with mild reactivity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, it produced no inhibitory activity with no reactivity against Staphylococcus aureus.