PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY AGAINST BOVINE MASTITIS PATHOGENS

The Antibacterial activity of four different extract viz. hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous of six medicinal plants ofGujarat, India each belonging to different families were evaluated against mastitis pathogens viz. Staphylococcus aureus,Streptococcus agalactiae, E.coli,Pseudomonas mendocina, Micrococcus pyogens. The in vitro antibacterial activity was performed by agar well diffusionmethod. The aqueous and hexane extracts were less active but methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed high degree ofantibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains. The most active antimicrobial plants were Rauvolfia serpentina, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Azadirachta indica. The Staphylococcusaureus was the most resistant bacteria while Pseudomonas mendocina was the most susceptible bacteria. Amongst the plant species screened, methanol extract of Rauvolfia serpentina root showed bestantibacterial activity. Primary qualitative analysis of phytochemicals showed presence of different phytochemicals in the extracts used in this study.