480 Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2013; 3(6): 480-486

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Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

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Document heading doi:10.1016/S2222-1808(13)60104-8 襃 2013 by the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. All rights reserved.

Phytochemical screening, antioxidants and antimicrobial potential of

Lantana camara in different solvents
Rabia Naz, Asghari Bano*
Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

PEER REVIEW ABSTRACT

Peer reviewer Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activity, hydrogen peroxide radicals scavenging activity,
Diego Alejandro Sampietro, Assistant reducing power, the total phenolic and flavonoids contents, and antimicrobial and antifungal
Professor, Phytochemistry and Plant activities of methanol, ethanol and water extracts of leaves of Lantana camara (L. camara).
Biotechnology, National University of Methods: Methanol, ethanol and water extracts were evaluated against four Gram positive and
Tucumàn, Argentina. Gram negative bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella
E-mail: [email protected] pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis) and two fungal strains (Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus
flavus). Methanol extract at different concentrations was tested for antioxidant potential and
Comments phytochemicals were determined by using spectrophotometric method.
T his is a good study in which the Results: The total phenolic content was (40.859依0.017) mg gallic acid/g in the leaves of L.
authors evaluated the antimicrobial camara, while the total flavonoids was (53.112依0.199) mg/g dry weight. Methanol leaf extract of L.
potential of L. camara leaf extracts in camara showed maximum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas
different solvents and also analyzed aeruginosa and was also effective against other bacterial strains as compared to ethanol and
the antioxidant and phytochemicals aqueous extracts of leaves. The methanol leaf extract of L. camara exhibited significant inhibition
in leaves. The results are interesting (71%) and (66%) against Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus respectively.
and suggest the presence of potential Conclusions: The methanol extract of the L. camara leaves is effective against selected bacterial
phytochemicals, antioxidants and and fungal strains. Its phytochemical contents have broad antimicrobial properties and the plant
active compounds which could be might be a novel source of antimicrobial drug.
identified and thus, find its way into
KEYWORDS
the antimicrobial drugs.
Details on Page 485 MIC, Antioxidants, Phytochemicals, Antimicrobial, Lantana camara

1. Introduction urinary tract infections and sepsis, are now resistant to virtually
all of the known antibiotics[3]. This resistance is largely due
Resistance to antimicrobial agents is a major global to indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs commonly used
public health problem[1]. Infectious diseases account for for the treatment of infectious diseases[4]. Furthermore some
approximately one-half of all death in tropics. Despite the antibiotics have serious undesirable side effect which limit
progress made in the understanding of microorganisms and their application, so there is serious need to develop new
their control in industrialized nations, incidents due to drug antimicrobial agents that are very effective with minimal
resistant microorganisms and the emergence of unknown unwanted side effect. Plants represent a potential source of
disease causing microbes, posed enormous public health novel antibiotic prototypes[5].
concern[2]. Streptococcus pyogenes, Stephylococcus aureus Lantana camara (L. camara) is mainly used as a herbal
and Streptococcus pneumoniae, the organisms that causes medicine and in some areas as firewood and mulch[6].
respiratory and cutaneous infection, as well as Pseudomonas It is also used for the treatment of cancers, chicken pox,
and members of Enterobacteriaceae, causing diarrhea and measles, asthma, ulcers, swellings, eczema, tumors, high

*Corresponding author: Asghari Bano, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam Article history:
University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Received 23 Sep 2013
Tel: +92 51 9064 3096 Received in revised form 31 Sep, 2nd revised form 2 Oct, 3rd revised form 20 Oct 2013
Fax: +92 51 90643138 Accepted 23 Nov 2013
E-mail: [email protected] Available online 28 Dec 2013
F oundation P roject: S upported by the H igher E ducation C ommission ( HEC ) of
Pakistan. The personal identification number (PIN) for this financial support/scholarship
is 0 74-0998-Av4-036.
 Rabia Naz and Asghari Bano/Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2013; 3(6): 480-486
481

blood pressure, bilious fevers, catarrhal infections, tetanus, 2.5. Hydrogen peroxide-scavenging activity
rheumatism, malaria and atoxy of abdominal viscera[7].
Extracts from the leaves exhibit antimicrobial, insecticidal The ability of the extracts to scavenge hydrogen peroxide
and nematicidal activity and also contain verbascoside, which was determined according to the method of Ruch et al[19].
possesses antimicrobial, immunosuppressive and antitumor Absorbance of the hydrogen peroxide activity was recorded
activities[8]. Several previous reports have described antifungal, at 230 nm in a spectrophotometer (HITACHI Model: U-1100 573伊
anti proliferative and antimicrobial activities of L. camara[9-13]. 415). Hydrogen per oxide scavenging ability (in triplicate) was
The present study aims to investigate the phytochemicals, free calculated by following equation:
radical scavanging activities and antimicrobial potential of Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (%) = 1-A1/A0伊100
leaves extract of the commonly used medicinal plant L. camara. A0 was the absorbance of the control and A1 was the absorbance
of the sample.

2. Materials and methods 2.6. Reducing power assay

2.1. Plant materials The reducing powers of the extracts were determined
according to the method described by Chung et al[20]. The
Fresh leaves of L. camara were collected from Margalla Hills extract which have reduction potential, react with potassium
of Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. The plants ferricyanide (Fe3 ) to form potassium ferrocyanide (Fe2 ),
+ +

were identified by the National Herbarium, Department of Plant which then reacts with ferric chloride to form ferric ferrous
Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. complex that has an absorption maximum at 700 nm in a
spectrophotometer (HITACHI Model: U-1100 573伊415).
2.2. Processing of the plant material
P otassium ferricyanide + F erric chloride potassium
Antioxidant Ferrocyanide+Ferrous chloride
--------
Plant leaves were washed thoroughly with distilled water. 濚
The leaves were dried under shade at room temperature. The
dried leaves of L. camara were finely grinded using electrical 2.7. Preliminary phytochemical screening
grinder and stored in air tight containers for further use. A total
of 250 g of the pulverized plant material was extracted for 4 d in Phytochemical screening of the L. camara was performed to
methanol, ethanol and sterile water[14]. The separated extracts detect the presence of different classes of constituents, such
were then filtered through Whatman’s No. 1 filter paper and the as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannin, saponins, terpenes,
methanol and ethanol filtrate were then separately condensed to phlobatannins and coumarins[21,22].
dryness using rotary evaporator. The thick extracted mass was
then dried at room temperature. Dried extract was collected in 2.8. Quantitative analysis of phytochemicals
an air tight container and stored at 4 °C for further analysis.
2.8.1. Total phenolic contents (TPC)
2.3. Chemicals TPC of L. camara were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu
colorimetric method using gallic acid as a standard, and the
1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), methanol, ferric absorbance was measured at 765 nm in a spectrophotometer
chloride, chloroform, H2SO4, HCl, benzene, NH4OH, potassium (HITACHI. Model: U-1100 573伊415). Results were expressed as
ferro-cyanide, sodium chloride, ethanol, Folin-Ciocalteau, gallic acid equivalent (GAE) mg/g of dried extract. Data for plant
Na2CO3, gallic acid, hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid were extract was recorded in triplicate[15,23].
obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, USA).
2.8.2. Determination of the total flavonoids content
2.4. DPPH radical scavenging activity Total flavonoids content was determined according to the
protocol of Sakanaka et al[24]. The absorbance was measured
The antioxidant activity was assessed in DPPH radical immediately at 510 nm in a spectrophotometer (HITACHI Model:
scavenging system using gallic acid and ascorbic acid as U-1100 573伊415). Flavonoids were estimated as mg/g of dried
a positive control, and the decrease in absorbance was fraction. All samples were run in triplicate.
determined at 517 nm in a spectrophotometer (HITACHI Model:
U-1100 573 伊 415)[15-17]. 2.8.3. Determination of total tannins
DPPH scavenging effect (%) = 1- A0-A1 伊100 Tannin content was determined by using Van-Burden and
A0 Robinson WC method[25]. Absorbance at 120 nm was recorded in
Where A0 was the absorbance of the control reaction and A1 a spectrophotometer (HITACHI Model: U-1100 573伊415) within 10
was the absorbance in the presence of the sample[18]. min and tannins contents were expressed as mg/g of the dried
fraction.
482 Rabia Naz and Asghari Bano/Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2013; 3(6): 480-486

2.9. Test microorganism prepared by dissolving 6.5 g of Sabouraud dextrose agar (MERCK)
per 100 mL distilled water (pH 5.6). The 10 mL of Sabouraud
The test microorganisms used in this investigation included dextrose agar was dispensed in screw capped tubes or cotton
bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 ( S. aureus ) , plugged test tubes and was autoclaved at 121 °C for 21 min.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 7221 (P. aeruginosa), Klebsiella Tubes were allowed to cool at 50 °C and Sabouraud dextrose
pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6059 agar was loaded with 67 µL of extract pipetted from the stock
(B. subtilis); and fungi Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) and solution. The tubes containing the media were then allowed
Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). The bacterial isolates were first sub to solidify in slanting position at room temperature. Three
cultured in a nutrient broth (SIGMA) and incubated at 37 °C for 18 slants of the extract sample were prepared for fungus species.
h, while the fungal isolates were sub cultured on a Sabouraud The tubes containing solidified media and plant extract were
dextrose agar (MERCK) for 72 h at 25 °C. inoculated with 4 mm diameter piece of inoculum, taken from
seven days old culture of fungus. One test tube of each extract
2.10. Positive and negative control was prepared, used as positive control. Slants without extract
were used as negative control. The test tubes were incubated at
Penicillin (1 mg/mL) was used as positive control for the 28 °C for 7 d. Cultures were examined twice weekly during the
test bacterial strains. Sterilized distilled water and dimethyl incubation. Reading was taken by measuring the linear length
sulfoxide were used as negative control. (mm) of fungus in slant and growth inhibition was calculated
with reference to negative control.
2.11. Antibacterial activity Percentage inhibition of fungal growth for each concentration
of compound was determined as
Antibacterial activity of the methanol, ethanol and aqueous Linear growth in test
% inhibition of fungal growth=1- Linear growth in control伊100
extract of L. camara leaf extract was determined by using
the agar-well diffusion method[26]. The bacterial strains were
first cultured in a nutrient broth for 18 h prior to use and 3. Results
standardized to 0.5 McFarland standards (106 CFU/mL).
Nutrient agar medium was prepared by adding nutrient agar 3.1. DPPH radical-scavanging activity
2.3 g in 100 mL of distilled water; pH was adjusted at 7.0 and was
autoclaved. It was allowed to cool up to 45 °C. Petri plates were Results shown in Table 1 indicates the relative activities
prepared by pouring 75 mL of seeded nutrient agar and allowed against ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The
to solidify. Wells were bored into the agar using a sterile 6 mm activity of 0.8 mg/mL BHT was the highest followed by ascorbic
diameter cork borer. Approximately 100 µL of the crude extract acid and L. camara leaf extracts respectively. Leaves extracts
at 12 mg/mL were added into the wells, allowed to stand at room of the plant quenched DPPH in a dose dependent manner:
temperature for about 2 h and incubated at 37 °C. Controls were [R²=0.983 7] for L. camara against the control (ascorbic acid and
set in parallel in which case the respective solvents were used BHT).
to fill the well. The plates were observed for zones of inhibition Table 1
after 24 h. The effects were compared with those of penicillin at Analysis of DPPH radical scavanging activity of leaf extracts of L.
a concentration of 1 mg/mL. camara.
Plant and drugs % inhibition依SD Logarithm equation IC50 (mg/mL)
2.12. Determination of relative percentage inhibition (mg/mL)
L. camara 0.2 45.00依0.47 y=19.871ln(x)+43.994 ≥0.2

The relative percentage inhibition of the test plant extract with 0.4 56.17依0.41 R²=0.983 7
respect to positive control was calculated by using the following 0.6 64.83依0.44
formula[27]. 0.8 73.13依0.42
100 伊(X-Y) Ascorbic acid 0.2 61.40依0.57 y=15.853ln(x)+61.372 ≤0.2
Relative percentage inhibition of the test extract=
Z-Y 0.4 72.37依0.30 R²=0.999 9
0.6 78.63依0.40
Where, X is total area of inhibition of the test extract, Y is total
0.8 83.47依0.46
area of inhibition of the solvent, and Z represents total area of
Gallic acid 0.2 70.43依0.50 y=14.029ln(x)+69.801 ≤0.2
inhibition of the standard drug. The total area of the inhibition
0.4 78.80依0.40 R²=0.979 5
was calculated by using area = πr2; where, r=radius of zone of
0.6 83.93依0.38
inhibition. 0.8 90.63依0.55

2.13. Assay for antifungal activity

The agar tube dilution method was used for the determination 3.2. Hydroxyl radical-scavanging activity
of antifungal activity of L. camara leaves extract in different
solvents[28]. The samples were prepared by dissolving 12 mg The scavenging abilities of selected plant leaves fraction
extract in 1 mL of dimethyl sulfoxide. Culture media was extracts on hydroxyl radical inhibition by the 2-deoxyribose
 Rabia Naz and Asghari Bano/Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2013; 3(6): 480-486
483

oxidation method are shown in Table 2. The results are 3.4. Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals
indicated as the inhibition rate. Leaf extract of L. camara
showed good hydroxyl radical scavenging activities (45%-73%) Results of phytochemical screening presented in Table
at a concentration of 0.2-0.8 mg/mL in the reaction mixture. 4 reveales moderate concentration of alkaloids, phenolics,
Leaf extract showing hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity was flavonoids, tannin, saponin, terpenoids, phlobetanin and
increased with increasing concentration of the extract sample. coumarine.
Leaf fraction of L. camara had higher activity but lower than Table 4
that of ascorbic acid and BHT (Table 2). Qualitative phytochemical analysis of leaf extracts of L. camara.
Constituents Presence
Table 2 Alkaloids Dragondorff’s test -
Analysis of hydroxyl radical scavanging activity of leaf extracts of L. Mayer’s test +++
camara. Phenolic +++
Plant and drugs Flavonoids +++
% inhibition依SD Logarithm equation IC50 (mg/mL) Tannin
(mg/mL) ++
L. camara 0.2 55.00依0.47 ≤ 0.2 Saponin ++
0.4 64.50依0.47 y=16.365ln(x)+54.281 Terpenoids -
0.6 71.50依1.44 R²=0.987 4 Phlobetanin -
0.8 78.13依0.24 Coumarin -
Ascorbic acid 0.2 67.40依0.47 ≤0.2 +++: Strongly positive, ++: Moderately positive, +: Weakly positive, -:
0.4 82.37依0.20 y=18.224ln(x)+67.989 Negative.
0.6 86.63依0.75 R²=0.985 3
0.8 93.47依0.46 3.5. Quantitative analysis of phytochemicals
0.2 79.77依0.42 ≤0.2
Gallic acid 0.4 85.13依0.33 y=12.587ln(x)+78.234 3.5.1. TPC
0.6 89.07依0.23 R²=0.870 9 TPC was determined in comparison with standard gallic acid
0.8 98.97依0.37 and the results were expressed in terms of mg GAE/g dry sample
of plant. TPC values for L. camara was (40.859依0.017) as mg GAE/
g dry sample.
3.3. Reducing power
3.5.2. Total flavonoid content
The reducing power of the selected plant leaf extract increased Total flavonoid content was determined in comparison with
with increase in concentration. At 0.8 mg/mL concentration, the standard rutin and the results expressed in terms of mg RU/
leaves extracts of L. camara showed absorbance of 0.888 (Table g of dry sample of plant. Total flavonoid content values for L.
3). Thus, the plant leaves extracts exhibited a lower reducing camara (53.112依0.199) was mg RU/g dry sample.
ability than the standard. Also, the reducing ability was found to
be the concentration dependent. With increasing concentration, 3.5.3. Estimation of tannin
the reducing ability of all the leaves extracts was found to The results of total tannin were presented in Table 5. The
increase. In this case, at 0.8 mg/mL, the reducing power was amount of tannin for L. camara (0.860依0.038) mg/g of the dried
found to be at maximum value. fraction in dry sample.

Table 3 3.6. Antibacterial activity

Analysis of reducing power ability of leaf extracts of L. camara.
Plant and drugs
% inhibition依 SD Logarithm equation IC50 (mg/mL) The antibacterial activity of methanol, ethanol crude extracts
(mg/mL)
and water extracts of leaves of L. camara was investigated
L. camara 0.2 0.721依0.001 ≤0.2
0.4 0.750依0.001 y=0.1055ln(x)+0.701 4
against two gram positive (B. subtilis and S. aureus) and two
0.6 0.782依0.002 R²=0.757 8 gram negative (P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae) bacterial
0.8 0.888依0.006 strains (Figure 1). The methanol and ethanol extracts of L.
Ascorbic acid 0.2 0.815依0.006 ≤0.2 camara exhibited the maximum zone of inhibition 21.7 mm
0.4 0.843依0.004 y=0.1485ln(x)+0.7812 and 19.7 mm against gram positive strain S. aureus and 20 mm
0.6 0.881依0.003 R²=0.668 2 and 17.7 mm zone of inhibition against gram negative strain
0.8 1.058依0.06 P. aurignosa and showed minimum antibacterial activity
Gallic acid 0.2 0.856依0.006 y=0.3147ln(x)+0.772 2 ≤0.2 against B. subtilis and K. pneumoniae. The results revealed that
0.4 0.878依0.002 R²=0.628 7 aqueous leaf extracts of L. camara has minimum antibacterial
0.6 0.985依0.002
activity against four bacterial strains as compared to methanol
0.8 1.370依0.006
and ethanol solvents.
484 Rabia Naz and Asghari Bano/Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2013; 3(6): 480-486

35 3.9. Antifungal activity

30
Zone of inhibition (mm)

25 Antifungal activity of methanol and water leaf extracts of

20 Methanol L. camara was investigated against two fungal strains viz. A.
Ethanol
15
Water
fumigatus and A. flavus (Table 6). Methanol leaf extract of L.
10 Penicillin camara showed 71.4% and 66.4%, while water extract showed
5 61.5% and 57.8% inhibition against A. fumigatus and A. flavus
0 respectively (Table 6).
S. aureus B. subtilis P. aeruginosa K. pnenmoneae
Figure 1. Antibacterial activities profile of methanol, ethanol and water Table 6
extracts from leaves tissue of L. camara. Antifungal activity of methanol and aqueous extracts from leaves
tissue of L. camara.
3.7. Relative percentage inhibition
Test fungi Linear growth (cm) Percentage inhibition (%)
Methanol Water Methanol Water
The standard drug (Penicillin) was used to determine the A. fumigatus 2.8 4.0 71.4 61.5
relative percentage inhibition of antibacterial activity of L. Control 9.8 10.3 - -
camara leaves extract in different solvents. A. flavus 3.33 4.3 66.4 57.8
Methanol leaf extract of L. camara exhibited maximum Control 9.9 10.2 - -
relative percentage inhibition (74.9% and 74.8% respectively)
against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, while minimum percentage
inhibition was recorded against B. subtilis. Ethanol leaf extract
of L. camara showed maximum relative percentage inhibition 4. Discussion
(67.9%) against S. aureus, while water leaf extract showed
maximum inhibition of 63% against S. aureus (Figure 2). From the present study the maximum radical scavanging
80
and antimicrobial activities of methanol extract of leaves of L.
Relative percentage inhibition (%)

70
60
camara was investigated.
50 The phytochemical compositions of L. camara reported
Methanol
40 previously[29]. With regards to reducing power, higher reducing
Ethanol
30
Water
activities can be attributed to higher amounts of polyphenolics
20
and the reducing capacity of a compound may reflect its
10
0
antioxidant potential[30]. It has been reported that the reducing
S. aureus B. subtilis P. aeruginosa K. pnenmoneae properties are generally associated with the presence of
Figure 2. Determination of relative percentage inhibition of methanol, ethanol reductones, which have been shown to exert antioxidant action
and water extracts from leaves tissue of L. camara compared to standard by breaking the free radical chain by donating a hydrogen
antibiotics. atom[31].
L. camara has been studied extensively for their antibacterial
3.8. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) properties. L. camara possess many important biological
activities viz., antipyretic, antimicrobial, antimutagenic,
Results showed in Table 5 revealed the MIC of methanol, antimicrobial, fungicidal, insecticidal, nematicidal and
ethanol and water extracts of L. camara. MIC values of methanol others [29]. Lantadenes which present in all L. camara is
extract of L. camara ranged between 5-8 mg/mL, ethanol 6.5-12 believed to be responsible for almost all the biological activities.
mg/mL and MIC of water leaf extract was recorded 8 mg/mL and In addition, other secondary metabolites such as alkaloids,
10 mg/mL against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, while MIC was terpenoids, and phenolics could be held partially responsible
not determined against B. subtilis and K. pneumoniae. MIC range for some of these biological activities[32].
of penicillin (standard drug) was recorded between 0.05-0.25 Therefore, antibacterial activities of L. camara leaf and
against four bacterial strains. flower extracts might be due to the presence of some of these
Table 5 chemical constituents particularly lantadenes and theveside
MIC values of methanol, ethanol and water extracts from leaves tissue in the extracts. The presence of phenolics, anthocyanins and
of L. camara. proanthocyanidins in L. camara leaves which could also be
Test bacteria MIC (mg/mL) responsible for the antibacterial properties of the L. camara
Methanol Ethanol Water Penicillin have been documented[33].
mg/mL mg/mL mg/mL mg/mL
A ntimicrobial activity of different plant extracts on
S. aureus 5.0 6.5 8.0 0.05
phytopathogenic bacteria was studied and reported by other
B. subtilis 8.0 10.0 nd 0.20
P. aeruginosa 5.0 8.0 10.0 0.05
workers[34]. The methanol leaf extracts of various medicinal
K. pneumoneae 8.0 12.0 nd 0.25
plants showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activity
PC: Penicillin, nd: Not determined.
against A. flavus, Dreschlera turcica and Fusarium verticillioides
 Rabia Naz and Asghari Bano/Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2013; 3(6): 480-486
485

have been reported[35]. Methanolic extracts of root and shoots negative and Gram positive bacterial strains and also against
of the herb Heracleum candicans wall (Apiaceae), showed two fungal species (A. fumigatus and A. flavus). Antioxidants
antifungal effect against Pythium and Aspergillus species[36]. and phytochemical screening of L. camara leaves have also
T he value of medicinal plants lies in phytochemical been studied.
constituents that cause definite pharmacological action on the
human body[37]. The plants are the vital source of innumerable Related reports
number of antimicrobial compounds. Several phytoconstituents Our results of efficient methanol extract are in agreement
like flavonoids, phenolics and polyphenols, tannins, terpenoids, with the previous work which showed that in plants most
sesquiterpenes etc., are effective antimicrobial substances of the compounds having antimicrobial potential (Verma
against a wide range of microorganisms[37]. et al., 2006). Methanol leaf extract is more effective against
The study showed that the methanol leaf extract of L. pathogenic bacterial strains than ethanol or water extracts
camara had more antimicrobial potential than ethanol and ( N az et al., 2011 ) . P revious studies using extracts from
water extract. The antimicrobial activity of L. camara may be Lantana species showed that they were able to inhibit the
attributed to the various phytochemical constituents present growth of Gram-positive bacteria strains (Júnior et al., 2005).
in the crude extract. The purified compounds may have even
more effectiveness with respect to inhibition of bacterial and Innovations & breakthroughs
fungal strains. The work carried was a basic approach to find Data regarding potential of leaf extract of L. camara
out the antimicrobial activity of L. camara in different solvents. against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains,
We therefore suggest more work should be required to isolate, against fungal Aspergillus species in different solvents and
identify and characterized the active components and also also about antioxidants and phytochemicals is scarce. This
possibly their mechanism of biological action and thus, find its study has shown that methanol leaf extract had a significant
way into the arsenal of antimicrobial drugs. higher antimicrobial potential than ethanol and water leaf
extracts.

Conflict of interest statement Applications

The present study indicated that the antibacterial and
We declare that we have no conflict of interest. antifungal activities vary with the different solvents of
plant leaf material used. L. camara was effective even at
low concentration against bacterial and fungal pathogens.
Acknowledgements The solvent extracted leaves extracts of L. camara contains
some highly potential phytochemicals, which could be
The authors would like to thank the Higher Education characterized and effective against bacterial and fungal
Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for providing the necessary infections.
financial support for the study. The personal identification
number (PIN) for getting this financial support/scholarship Peer review
from HEC is 0 74-0998-Av4-036. This is a good study in which the authors evaluated
the antimicrobial potential of L. camara leaf extracts in
different solvents and also analyzed the antioxidant and
Comments phytochemicals in leaves. T he results are interesting
and suggest the presence of potential phytochemicals,
Background antioxidants and active compounds which could be
Plants have been used to treat a variety of ailments and the identified and thus, find its way into the arsenal of
introduction of orthodox medicine did not affect their use. antimicrobial drugs.
L. camara belongs to Verbenaceae family and is reported
to be used in traditional medicine system for the treatment
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