Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part B (2024)

Gloriosa superba, commonly known as flame lily, is a medicinal plant widely recognized for its therapeutic properties, particularly in traditional medicine. The present study focuses on the phytochemical screening and in-vitro antimicrobial activity of the various parts of plant like shoot, flower and rhizome extracts of Gloriosa superba. The aim of this research was to identify the bioactive compounds present in the various extracts and evaluate its potential antimicrobial effects against various bacterial and fungal strains. The rhizomes were collected, dried, and extracted using ethyl acetate (ETOAC), ethanol (ETOH), DMSO as solvents. Phytochemical screening was performed using standard qualitative methods to detect the presence of key secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, and terpenoids. The results indicated the presence of several bioactive compounds, with alkaloids and flavonoids being particularly prominent. For antimicrobial assessment, antimicrobial susceptibility test was employed to test the various extract against a range of bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, as well as fungal strains such as Candida albicans, Candida fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. The extract exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity in both bacterial and fungal strains. The results indicated that ETOAC and ETOH extracts of shoot, rhizomes and flower showed significant activity against B.subtilis while almost all extract showed excellence antifungal activity against standard antifungal antibiotic. In conclusion, the study confirms that the rhizome of Gloriosa superba possesses potent antimicrobial properties, attributed to the presence of diverse phytochemicals. These findings suggest that Gloriosa superba rhizome extract could serve as a natural source of antimicrobial agents, warranting further investigation into its potential for pharmaceutical applications.