ANTIBACTERIAL SCREENING OF ETHANOLIC AEGLE MARMELOS LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

Aeglemarmelos (L.) Correa, named as Bael is one of the medicinally important plants and popular in all systems of medicine for its therapeutic properties. Present investigation focuses on collection and authentication of A. marmelos leaves in the extract preparation, phytochemical analysis, physico-chemical characterization and antimicrobial studies. An accredited botanist confirmed the plant specimen to be Herbarium collections based on its form. The plant material was collected from Botanical Garden of Chaudhary Charan Singh (CCS) University, Meerut. To assist in plant identification, the leaves macroscopic features - shape, size, venation and texture were noted. The shade-dried leaves were powdered and subsequently extracted with methanol in soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of bioactive agents like alkaloids, tannins terpenoids, flavonoids phenolics, glycosides and saponin in varying concentration. Physicochemical examination confirmed the purity of the plant and its compatibility with use in medicine. The extractive value was high (84.1 + 1.54%) and the ash as well as moisture content were within allowable limits. The alcoholic leaf extract showed considerable antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae) bacteria, as well as antifungal against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. These findings suggest that the leaves of A. marmelos has significant phytotherapeutic value in support of its use in herbal formulations against microbial diseases.