Evaluation of Pharmacological Activity of Selected Flowers Used in Bathukamma - State Festival of Telangana

Objective: The present study was aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of ten different flowers used in floral festival called Bathukamma.
Methods: As most of the flowers used in this festival are known to possess medicinal values, their methanol extracts were tested to detect various pharmacological activities. Well diffusion method for antimicrobial activity, DPPH assay for antioxidant activity and TLC were employed.
Results: Of the flowers used, Crossandra, Hibiscus, Nerium, Tagetes, Celosia argentea and Cassia auriculata exhibited high antibacterial activity. Others with moderate activity. High antifungal activity was showed by Tagetes, Chrysanthemum, Celosia cristata, Celosia argentea and Cucurbita maxima. Of the extracts used, Nerium, Tagetes, Chrysanthemum, Celosia argentea and Nelumbo exhibited very high radical scavenging activity. TLC separation achieved several visible and UV detected components in extracts of Hibiscus, Chrysanthemum, Celosia argentea, Cassia auriculata and Cucurbita.
Conclusion: These results support the tradition of releasing these flowers in water during festival which significantly enhances the antimicrobial activity of water bodies there by aids in their self purification process.

Author(s): Sumangala Rao, M Ekanath, G.Chandrakala, D.Harish Rao, R.Venkatesh and P.Kiran

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