Abstract

Polyalthia longifolia (Annonaceae), Elaeocarpus serratus (Elaeocarpaceae) andTrachyspermum ammi (Umbelliferae) are traditionally employed to cure various health ailments in Bangladesh. Extracts of these medicinal plants were tested for their potential antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity using the disc diffusion method and the brine shrimp lethality tests respectively. Ethanol extracts of the barks of P.longifolia, leaves of E. serratus and seeds of T. ammi showed significant antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria and moderate to mild lethality to the brine shrimps tested. This study provides some scientific bases for the use of this plant as a remedy for stomach, skin and bacterial infections in folkloric medicine whose causative agents are some of the pathogens studies. The activities observed could be attributed to the presence of some of the phytochemicals detected which have been associated with antibacterial activity and cytotoxic property.

Key words: Polyalthia longifolia, Elaeocarpus serratus, Trachyspermum ammi, antibacterial activity, cytotoxic activity.