Published Paper Details:

Nerium oleander is a rich source of secondary metabolites with potential biological activities. In the present study, the methanolic extract of Nerium oleander flowers was evaluated for its phytochemical constituents, chromatographic profile, and antimicrobial activity. Preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted using standard qualitative chemical tests to detect major classes of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, and cardiac glycosides, which are known to possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on silica gel 60 F254 plates using suitable solvent systems to separate the chemical constituents of the extract. Distinct spots with characteristic Rf values were observed under visible and ultraviolet light, confirming the presence of multiple phytochemical components and demonstrating the complexity of the flower extract. The TLC fingerprint obtained can serve as a reference for the identification and quality control of Nerium oleander flower extract. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was evaluated against selected gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains, as well as fungal species, using the agar well diffusion method. The methanolic flower extract exhibited appreciable antimicrobial activity, with zones of inhibition increasing in a concentration-dependent manner. The observed activity may be attributed to the synergistic effects of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and glycosides present in the extract. Overall, the findings suggest that Nerium oleander flower extract contains diverse bioactive compounds with significant antimicrobial potential. The combination of phytochemical screening, TLC profiling, and antimicrobial evaluation supports the possible use of this plant as a natural source of antimicrobial agents and provides a scientific basis for further isolation and characterization of its active constituents.