Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of crude methanolic leaf extract of Peucedanum winkleri H. Wolff.

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Peucedanum winkleri H. Wolff, revealed the presence of secondary metabolites. The extract from total extraction with methanol was screened for its antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Candida albicans and Candida krusei using agar-well difussion method. The result indicated that the extract inhibited the growth of one or more test pathogens and were compareable with those of the standard drugs used. The minimun inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges from 5-10 mg/ml and the minimun bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) ranges from 20-40 mg/ml. The result of the study shows justification for the use of the plant for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by these bacteria and fungi pathogens. It was concluded that P. winkleri H. Wolff could be a potential source of active antimicrobial agents and a detailed assessment of antimicrobial activity of the plant material in other solvents extract, isolation and characterization of active compounds from the most active extract is on-going.