Phytochemical screening, total tannin, saponin content and antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of Erythrina variegata

In the present study aqueous leaf extract of Erythrina variegata were investigated the phytochemical screening, total tannin, total saponin content and antibacterial activity. Phytochemical screening of various extracts such as aqueous, ethanol, chloroform, acetone and petroleum ether, aqueous leaf extract revealed the presence of steroids, quinones, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids than other extracts. The leaf extract were quantitatively estimated for total tannin and saponin content. The optimum yield of tannins and saponin content was found in aqueous leaf extract (46.7mg TAE/ g) and (36.1mg/gm) of Erythrina variegata. Different concentrations of aqueous leaf extracts were tested for the anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis using the agar disc diffusion technique. The aqueous leaf extracts from Erythrina variegata had a superior level of antimicrobial activity. The powerful antibacterial effect is attributed to the greater amount of tannins and saponin compound in the aqueous leaf extract of Erythrina variegata.