Mineral composition and antimicrobial activity of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Swertia cordata</i> (G. Don) Clarke aerial parts and roots

Abstract

273-277The study aim was to evaluate the concentration of mineral elements and antimicrobial activity of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Swertia cordata (G. Don) Clarke aerial parts and roots. Macro minerals, viz. sodium, potassium, calcium, lithium were estimated by Flame Photometer while micro minerals, viz. iron, copper, manganese, zinc and cobalt were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Among all the elements, highest concentration of potassium was recorded in both aerial parts (385.6 mg/100 g) and roots (421.3 mg/100 g) of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">S. cordata. Methanol extract of both <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">S. cordata aerial parts and roots obtained by Soxhlet extraction were screened for their antimicrobial activity against 6 bacteria and 2 fungi using disc diffusion method. The results showed that both the extracts exhibited moderate antibacterial activity while roots showed good antifungal activity against Candida albicans (ZOI =20 mm)