Evaluation of Antimicrobial principles of Rhizophora species along Mumbai Coast

Abstract

Mangrove plants are rich source of secondary metabolites like steroids, triterpens, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. Extracts from different mangrove plants are reported to possess diverse medicinal properties. In view of this Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora mucronata were selected to study the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. For this purpose gram negative, gram positive bacteria and fungi were used to test antibacterial and antifungal activity of these plant extracts. The tested extracts showed to varying degrees of antimicrobial potential against the test microorganisms.These promising finding suggest antibacterial and antifungal activity of plant material indicating presence of bioactive compounds against pathogens.