Abstract

STUDY OF ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS BY AGAR WELL DIFFUSION METHOD

Sonia Chaman*, Shalini, Garima Sharma, Anil K Reshi

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic leaf extracts of Cymbopogon citratus, Elettaria cardamomum, Elaeocarpus ganitrus and Fortunella japonicawas studied againstPseudomonas aeruginosa(MTCC No.424), Staphylococcus aureus(MTCC No.87), Candida albicans (MTCC No.1964)by agar well diffusion method. Elettaria cardamomum had shown antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus (with zone of inhibition 20, 19 &16 mm, respectively). Cymbopogon citratus had shown inhibitory effect against Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (with zone of inhibition 19, 18&8mm, respectively). Elaeocarpus ganitrus had scored maximum inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans (with zone of inhibition 20 mm) and minimum against Staphylococcus aureus (with zone of inhibition 15 mm). Among all the tested plants Fortunella japonicaexhibited maximum antifungal activity (with zone of inhibition 23 mm)and minimum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (with zone of inhibition 8 mm).Antimicrobial activity against selected strains varies among the different plants used.The results showed that the selected plants exhibited maximum antifungal activity followed by antibacterial activity against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria.This study suggests that the ethanol leaf extract of selected plants can be used as potent agent for the drug formulation against Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Keywords: