Pseudarthria Viscida Essay

Ethanobotanical knowledge and antimicrobial activity for the

Leaves and Stem extract of the Pseudarthria viscida

1Ahila N, 1Neelamegam R, 2Siva Nadanam V, 1Sindhu and 3Ghanthi kumar S*

1S.T.Hindu College, Nagarcoil- 629 002, 2Lakshmipuram College of Arts and Science, Neyyoor- 629 802, 3St.Xaier’s college,Palayamkottai -627 002. *Correspoding auther email: [e-mail].

Abstract The present work carried out on the ethanobotanical knowledge and antimicrobial activity for the leaf extract of the Pseudarthria viscida, traditionally used by village people in Kalakad used in the treatment of cold, skin diseases, fever, headache and wounds and scabies. Hence, the present studies were suggestive for quality evaluation and standardization

The plant is perennial, diffuse, prostrate, stems 60-120 cm long, slender, more or less clothed with soft whitish hairs. It is distributed throughout South India, up to 900m in the hills station. Literature review reveals that root and leaves contain proteins, tannins and flavonoids and also showed significant inhibitory activity against some fungal pathogens causing major diseases in crop plants and stored food grains (Deepa et al, 2004). Traditionally plant is use in cases of biliousness, rheumatism, excessive heat, intestinal poison, fever, diarrhea, asthma, heart diseases, worms and piles (Pankaj 2004; Nadkarni 1982). Masirkar(2008) reported that its roots contain anti-diabetic activity against alloxan induced diabetes in albino rats. A special feature of higher angiospermic plants is their capacity to produce a large number of organic chemicals of high structural diversity. The so-called secondary metabolites (Evans et al., 1986), which are divided into different categories based on their mechanism of function like chemotherapeutic, bacteriostatic, bactericidal and antimicrobial (Purohit and Mathur, 1999). The accumulation of phytochemicals in the plant cell cultures had been studied for more than thirty years and the generated knowledge had helped in realization of using cell cultures for production of desired phytochemicals (Castello et al., 2002). Healthy environment are a major problem in the developing countries because everyday has born new microbial infection defeat people. Due to indiscriminate use of commercial antibiotic resistance in human pathogens is increasing. Hence, we must find out for new antimicrobial substances from various sources like medicinal plants. Medicinal plants constitute the main source of health care products (Ivanona et al., 2005). The present study was aimed at developing a ethanobotanical knowledge, preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity