Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial potential on ethanolic extract of Gnaphalium polycaulon Pers., ethnomedicinal plant used by The Niligiri tribe from Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India

The aim of the present study was to worked out the phytoconstituents and antimicrobial potential in ethanolic extracts of the different parts of Gnaphalium polycaulon plant. The plant material were collected and extracted with ethanol from The Nilgiri District, South India and its parts were used in folk medicine for the treatment of skin disease, respiratory problems and nervous disorders. Then it was subjected for phytochemical screening and antimicrobial study with standard procedure. The results showed that G. polycaulon exhibited the presence of major phytochemicals quantitatively and significant antimicrobial activity against all the test micro-organisms. This study evaluated significant phytoconstituents and antimicrobial activity of this ethnomedicinal plant used in folkloric medicine. Our results finding strongly supported that the crude ethanolic extracts contain medicinally important bioactive compounds and acts as antimicrobial agents.