ANTIMICROBIAL SCREENING OF CASSIA-OCCIDENTALIS L. IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO

Ethanol extracts of different parts and the calli of Cassia occidental is, and sequential extracts (petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, eth anol and water) of whole plant and metabolite-rich fractions (anthraqu inones, sennosides and flavonoids) of leaves, pods, flowers and callus have been tested against indicator human pathogenic bacteria and fung i. Likewise, an ethanol extract (whole plant) was tested against selec ted viruses and for antitumour and cytotoxicity following established protocols. The anthraquinones were found to be more active against E. coli and S. aureus (IZ 22 mm) while sennosides were more active agains t A. flavus (IZ 28 mm), However, no antiviral, antitumour or cytotoxic ity effect was exhibited against the test systems. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.