International Journal of Biology Research

Authors
Alka Bameta, Anita Kumari, Dr. Anshulika Upadhyaya

Abstract
Nerium oleander L. (Family: Apocynaceae) is commonly known as Arali found throughout India has been used in the treatment of a wide variety of malady conditions including, asthma, eczema, ringworm, abscesses, corns epilepsy, herpes, malaria, scabies, sores, and certain tumors. The present study is therefore undertaken to analyze its phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity using leaf and stem samples of plant. Dried samples were used to obtain various extract viz. methanolic, ethanolic, petroleum ether and chloroform. All the extracts were tested using Disc Diffusion Method against various Bacterial strains: Bacillus subtilis (gram +ve), Staphylococcus aureus (gram +ve), Pseudomonas (gram –ve), Salmonella typhi (gram -ve) and fungal strains: Asparagus niger, Cryptococcus neoformans, Sacchromyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans. In the case of bacterial and fungal culture used in this study methanolic extract showed the maximum amount of antimicrobial and antifungal activity than the other extract used. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenol, steroids, saponins, tannins coumarin & reducing sugar in the solvent used in this study.