Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY OF ROOT EXTRACT OF HEMIDESMUS INDICUS USING AGAR WELL DIFFUSION METHOD

*Rathod M. L., Dr. Sheth N. R., Dr. Dudhrejia A. V. and Dr. Vaghela P. D.

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Abstract

Herbs are staging a comeback and herbal ‘renaissance’ is happening all over the globe. Over –three quarters of the world population relies mainly on plants and plant extract. Plants have been used by mankind to treat various diseases and disorders. Medicinal plants, which are found on earth, have renowned medicinal significance and their usage is increasing day by day in our daily life. Medicinal plants have curative properties due to the presence of various complexes. The plant Hemidesmus indicus is used medicinally for a wide number of ailments and so it was selected. Air-dried roots yield essential oil containing p -methoxy salicylic aldehyde as the major constituent. The aroma of the drug is attributed to this aldehyde. Other constituents present in the roots are: β-sitosterol, α & β-amyrins, lupeol, tetracyclic triterpene alcohols, flavonoids, small amounts of resin acids, fatty acids, tannins, saponins, a glycoside and a ketone. (Prajapati, Purohit). In the present study antimicrobial activity of the hydroethanolic root extract of Hemidesmus indicus was studied using microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermides, Bacillus megaterium, E. Coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Keywords: Hemidesmus indicus, antimicrobial, Staphylococcus aureus, Agar well diffusion.