Antimicrobial Potential of the Moss Brachymenium turgidum Broth. ex. Dix. From Melghat Forest

Abstract

The plant Brachymenium turgidum is a small tufts of moss occurred on branches and trunks of trees with corticolous habitat as well as on moist forest ground surface. These plants found mostly in humid areas during rainy seasons where humidity is always higher. The plants generally slender, greenish brown tufts with erect stem. The turgid, sub-pendulous capsules are the key features of the thallus. Since time immemorial to man, the antimicrobial potential of the mosses known to the world especially against wounds, burns and skin infections. In the present investigations, certain preliminary phytochemical tests carried out to trace the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides. The antibacterial sensitivity test was elicited out against about seven bacterial and three fungal pathogenic microorganisms. The plant powder extracted in polar and non-polar solvents like water, methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, and acetone to obtain different fractions. Antibacterial effect of these fractions was determined by disc diffusion method The results were compared with the standard antibiotic like, Tetracycline and Nystatin (10 μg/ml). The preliminary phytochemical analysis confirms the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and terpenoids as an important phyto constituent. The antimicrobial activity showed that most of the extract was sensitive to at least one microorganism by exhibiting significant zone of inhibition. Hence, potential antimicrobial activity recorded among the moss and can be found more pronounced in future advanced chemical characterization.