2.5. Fractionation of active plant extract and its characterization
75% methanol extracts of A. paniculata leaves were subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) for separation of anti- bacterial fraction. Silica gel-60 was used as stationary phase whereas the mobile phase was the mixture of chloroform and methanol (7:3). The bands were visualized in a UV trans- illuminator and the position of bands was marked. The bands were scratched from TLC plates, dissolved in methanol, reduced to dryness, redissolved in deionized water and tested for its antibacterial activity against S. aureus ATCC 25923 by Macrobroth dilution method. The active fraction was sub- jected to various phytochemical tests according to conven- tional methods7 to determine its chemical nature.