ISSN (Online) : 2277-4572
Author(s): Midhila Baby, Toji Thomas *
This study examines antibacterial and Cytotoxicity of Indigofera tinctoria L. The study was carried out using petroleum ether, acetone, ethanol and water as extracting solvents in the gradation of increasing polarity. The extraction was also done using single extract in 80% ethanol. Antibacterial activity was observed at its maximum in single extract. Maximum antibacterial activity was shown against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens. MIC value of 62.5 mg/ml was observed towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa but MBC value was >250 mg/ml and MIC value of 125 mg/ml was observed towards Serratia marcescens and MBC value was >250 mg/ml. Preliminary Phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolics. Cytotoxic study conducted using water extract in Allium cepa root meristem. All the tested concentrations of leaf extracts caused significant inhibition in the growth of roots compared with the control. Various chromosomal abnormalities like bridge formation, stickiness of chromosomes at prophase and metaphase stages, disturbance in the orientation of the spindle resulting in wrong directions of chromosome movement, vagrant chromosomes, were the common abnormalities found in this case. There was a considerable increase in the total number of aberrant cells with increasing concentration of the leaf extract.
