Microscopic, phytochemical and antibacterial studies of Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew. leaves.

Microscopic, phytochemical and pharmacological profiles are required for correct identification of a plant material to ensure consistent efficacy and safety. But such data are not available for the leaf of an important medicinal plant, Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew. (Family: Rhamnaceae). Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate leaves of the plant for microscopic, phytochemical and antibacterial studies. Powdered material was subjected to microscopy, proximate analyses and estimation of total primary metabolites. Then, different types of extracts prepared using various solvents in order of increasing polarity were screened for antibacterial activity against seven standard strains. The most active extract was hydrolyzed and aglycone enriched fraction was extracted and screened for antibacterial activity. The powder microscopy indicated the presence of vascular bundles filled with cuboidal calcium oxalate crystals, anisocytic stomata and xylary vessels with reticulate and scalariform thickenings. Proximate features and primary metabolites provided characteristic identifying patterns. The most active extract (methanol) upon acidic hydrolysis exhibited higher activity against B. bronchiseptica (26.01±0.01 mm), S. aureus (26.00±0.00 mm), P. aeruginosa (24.03±0.02 mm) and M. luteus (24.02± 0.00 mm). The results of the current study provide identifying microscopic and phytochemical profiles that may be useful for correct identification of leaves of the plant. Aglycone enriched extract is having remarkable antibacterial activity hence may be used for activity-guided isolation.