Studies on Plumbago zeylanica: An Ethnoveterinary Plant

Abstract

The plant species Plumbago zeylanica Linn. (Known vernacularly as Chitraka, Chitramulamu, Tellachitramulamu, Agnichela, Agnimaala by its trade or popular names of “Lead wort-white flowered” and “Ceylon Lead wort”) belongs to the family Plumbaginaceae, is distributed as a weed in throughout the tropical and subtropical countries of the world. The main objective of this study was to investigate the phytochemicasl, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the crude extract of Plumbago zeylanica leaves. Plumbago zeylanica was a rich source of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, phenols, tannins, saponins, Steroids and quinones. It has prominent antioxidant activities. Among the selected pathogens highest zone of inhibition was observed by Clostridium septicum (10 mm) followed by Candida albicans (16 mm). The findings of this study support the view that P. zeylanica plant is a promising source of potential antioxidants and may be effective as preventive agent in the pathogenesis of some Ethno-Veterinary diseases.