Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity of the Rhizomes of Alpinia Conchigera

Different plant parts like dried leaves, pseudostems and rhizomes of Alpinia conchigera Griff. posses potential medicinal value. In this study acetone extract of Alpinia conchigera Griff. rhizomes was studied for antibacterial activity and different chemical tests were performed. After successful collection of Alpinia conchigera rhizome, this were sun dried for 20 days and then dried in an oven at 45oC for 24 hours. Then the dried rhizomes were extracted with acetone for 3 days and the extract were collected through coarse filtration. Finally the extract was concentrated by evaporation in dry and clean air. The crude extracts were screened for their antibacterial activity against a wide range of gram positive and gram negative organism by disc diffusion method and the result were compared with those for a standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The extracts was then tested for presence of some chemical constituents like flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, carbohydrates, tannins, saponins and steroids. The crude extract showed a moderate activity against most of the organisms and the chemical tests give a positive result for flavonoids, alkaloids and carbohydrates. Due to these promising results, further in vivo studies over Alpinia conchigera Griff. must be conducted.