Comparative study on phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of Plumbago zeylanica linn. and Plumbago auriculata lam.

Stem and leaves of two species of Plumbago Linn.viz. P. zeylanica Linn. and P. auriculata Lam. were investigated for phytochemical screening and in vitro antimicrobial activity. Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extracts were used for this purpose. The microorganisms tested were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Both species showed more or less similar phytochemical profile. The presence of phytochemicals in them suggest their potential as medicine. Chloroform extract of the stem of P. zeylanica was found to be the most effective against human pathogen S. aureus.