PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF Cichorium intybus L

Plants have basic nutritional importance by their content of protein, carbohydrate, fats and oils minerals, vitamins and water responsible for growth and development in man and animals. Phytochemical simply means plant chemicals. Phytol is the Greek word for plant. Phytochemicals are classified as primary or secondary constituents, depending on their role in plant metabolism. Primary metabolism is important for growth and development of plants include the common sugars, aminoacids, proteins, purines and pyrimidines of nucleic acids, chlrophyll‘s etc. Secondary metabolism in a plant plays a major role in the survival of the plant in its environment. Attractions of pollinators, natural defense system against predators and diseases, etc., are examples of the roles of secondary metabolites. The secondary metabolites formed also are an important trait for our food plants (taste, colour, scent, etc.) and ornamental plants. Moreover, numerous plant secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids, anthocyanins, terpenoids, rotenoids etc. have found commercial application as drug, dye, flavour, fragrance, insecticide, etc. Such fine chemicals are extracted and purified from plant materials. Plant produces these chemicals to protect itself but recent research demonstrates that many phytochemicals can protect humans against diseases including cancer, cardiovascular, arthritis, diabetic, etc. (Satyavati, 1982). The aim of the study to investigate the Phytochemical investigation and Antimicrobial activity of Cichorium intybus L.. ABSTRACT