PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF SOLVENT EXTRACT OF LANTANA CAMARA.L LEAF FROM MEKELLE, ETHIOPIA

In this study, the phytochemical analysis took place for solvent extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform) and essential oils. Maceration method and hydrodistillation were used for the solvent extraction and essential oil extraction respectively. Solvent extract was studied for phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activities. The antibacterial activity of a solvent extract of Lantana camara L. leaf was investigated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram -), E. coli (gram-) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram+). The paper disk agar diffusion methods tested the antibacterial activity inhibition of growth. Phytochemical analysis showed that solvent extract (petroleum ether, chloroform) contains more constituents than the essential oil of Lantana camara L. leaf. This difference might come from the volatile constituents and non-volatile constituents of this plant. Solvent extracts gave a positive test for most phytochemical analysis, but the oil gave a positive test only for carbohydrate and terpenoids. Staphylococcus aureus was highly susceptible to the petroleum extract than chloroform extract; with a zone of inhibition from 14.17 ± 0.29 mm to17.7 ± 0.2 mm. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was less susceptible to both solvents extract than the rest with the zone of inhibition7.9 ± 0.21mm to 11.3 ± 0.5. Both solvent extract of Lantana camara Linn. leaf showed antibacterial activity against all the bacterial strain tested.