PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Medicinal plants represent an important source of bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of selected medicinal plants extracted using solvents of varying polarity. Plant materials were extracted using methanol, ethanol, aqueous, and hexane solvents and subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening for major secondary metabolites. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts demonstrated significantly higher antimicrobial activity compared to aqueous and hexane extracts, which correlated with a broader phytochemical profile. Gram-positive bacteria were generally more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria, while fungal strains exhibited comparatively higher resistance. The inclusion of MIC determination and standard controls strengthened the reliability of the findings. Overall, the results support the potential of medicinal plant extracts as sources of antimicrobial agents and emphasize the importance of solvent selection in phytochemical and antimicrobial investigations.