Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activity of the Leaf, Flower and Carotenoid Extracts of Peltophorum Petrocarpum

Jean Tony Amalya J and V. Judia Harriet Sumathy*
Postgraduate & Research Department of Biotechnology, Women’s Christian College, Chennai–600006

A B S T R A C T
Nature is our greatest medicine cabinet. It has provided mankind with numerous cures even for deadly diseases. Still there are so many cures that lie untapped in earth’s ecosystem and many researches are being done in order to find the cures for many illnesses. Peltophorum pterocarpum is a very common deciduous tree grown in tropical countries. Flowering occurs from March-May, although sporadic flowering may occur throughout the year (particularly in young trees), and a second flush of flowers may occur in September-November. Under natural conditions, P. pterocarpum is a lowland species, rarely occurring above an altitude of 100 m. It frequently grows along beaches and in mangrove forests, especially the inner margins of mangroves. The species prefers open forest conditions. Peltophorum pterocarpum will grow in tropical climates with a dry season of 1-3 months. The tree prefers light to medium free draining alkaline soils although it tolerates clay soils. Different parts of this  tree  are  used  to   treat  many  diseases  like stomatitis,  insomnia,  skin  troubles,  constipation, ringworm. Its bark is used as medicine for dysentery, as eye lotion, embrocation for pains and sores. The traditional healers use the leaves in the form of decoction for treating skin disorders. The present study is aimed at analyzing the Anti – microbial and Anti – cancer activity of the leaf, flower and carotenoid extracts of Peltophorum petrocarpum.
Keywords: Nature, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Tradional Healers, Anti – microbial and Anti–cancer activity.