Abstract

Phytochemical analysis, antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal activity of Berberis royleana roots

Author(s): Rehman TU, Kanwal Z, Zeb MA, Liaqat W, Khan S & Xiao WL

Background: Berberis royleana is rare species belongs to genus Berberis. In the current research work the plant roots were investigated for their phytochemical analysis, antifungal, antibacterial and insecticidal activities.

Materials: B. royleana roots were collected from Trarkhal, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan in July 2017. Extraction, fraction preparation and phytochemical analysis were done using standard procedures. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the plant roots were checked against the bacterial strains E. coli, C. freundii, K. pneumoniae, V. pestis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi and fungal strains A. flavus, A. niger, Penicillium and White rot fungi. Also, the insecticidal activities of fractions were tested by direct contact application process of the fractions against insects Kelosobrocus meleticulatis at three different time intervals.

Results: Phytochemical analysis of the fractions identified the presence of alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones, glycosides, reducing sugars, saponins, flavonoids, phlobatanins, steroids, terpenoid in the roots of B. royleana. All of the fractions showed inhibition against the growth of tested bacterial strains. The chloroform fraction showed maximum inhibition 39 mm against E. coli while the n-hexane fraction exhibits minimum inhibition 10 mm against S. aureus. The crude fractions n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water showed significant antifungal activity against tested fungal strains. The crude fractions were tested for insecticidal activity at different time intervals 24, 48 and 72 hours. The maximum mortality rate was shown by water fraction which was recorded to be 60% at 72 hours intervals.

Conclusion: This study showed that the roots of plant B. royleana are very important from medicinal point of view and should be further explore for phytochemicals and their biological potentials.