Phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial study of flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis flowers were collected in the month of August from the Manipal region of the India. The flowers were shed dried, powdered and extracted with ethanol in soxhlet apparatus. Dried ethanolic extract was further subjected to fractionation by using petroleum ether, diethyl ether and ethyl acetate solvents in the order of increasing polarity. Phytochemical screening of flower extract showed the presence of volatile oils, phenolic compounds and iridoids. Petroleum ether and diethyl ether fraction showed the significant antioxidant activity. Among the fractions tested for antibacterial activity, petroleum ether and diethyl ether showed moderate antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative species. None of the tested fraction showed significant antifungal activity.