Extraction of the aerial parts of Heliotropium indicum was conducted by continuous and exhaustive extraction of the powdered plant material using petroleum spirit (60-80oC) and methanol as solvents respectively. The extracts were obtained by concentration in vacuo at 40oC using rotary evaporator. Phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides and flavonoids while phlobotamins, steroids, coumarin and cardiac glycosides are absent in all the crude extracts. The antimicrobial screening of the extracts showed significant zones of inhibition against 70% of the test organisms. The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) against various organisms were conducted. The antimicrobial analysis of the isolated components was also conducted. These prove the folkloric usage of the plant and also indicated a broad spectrum activity of the plant extracts. The methanolic extract afforded white crystalline solids which were characterized using Infra-red Spectroscopy and Gas-Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) to be Indicum1, 2, 3 and 4.
