Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AGERATUM CONYZOIDES L.: IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL,ANTIOXIDANT AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Dipika Rajput, L.R. Saikia, Munmi Borkataky and Sandeepa Agarwalla

Abstract

Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) is an aromatic weed. The weed has been known since time immemorialfor its therapeutic properties and has been utilized for treatment of various ailments, such as burns andwounds, for antimicrobial properties, for many infectious conditions and bacterial infections, arthrosis,headaches and dyspnea, pneumonia, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic andhaemostatic effects, stomach ailments, gynaecological diseases, leprosy and other skin diseases. A widerange of chemical compounds including alkaloids, cumarins, flavonoids, chromenes, benzofurans, sterolsand terpenoids have been isolated from this species. Present study aimed at qualitative and quantitativephytochemical analysis of leaves of A. conyzoides. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannin,alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugar and saponin and absence ofanthraquinone, carotenoids and free anthraquinone in all the extracts varying quantities. The plant extractsexhibited the presence of a high amount of phenolics and flavonoid content which might be the key candidatesfor the antioxidant potential of the extract. The antibacterial activity of A. conyzoides was tested againstseven bacteria.