Abstract

STUDIES ON ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS AGAINST FOOD BORNE PATHOGENS

Reethi Budanuru, Chenna Govindaraju Darshan Raj*, Harakanahalli Basavegowda Lingaraju , Kodimule Shyam Prasad, Govinda Akshatha

Abstract

In vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of aqueous extracts of Cinnamomum verum, Morinda ctrifolia, Punica granatum and Withania somnifera were evaluated. Antioxidant capability of the extracts were determined through DPPH, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating assays. All the extracts exhibited moderate to good antioxidant activity in a concentration dependent manner. The DPPH scavenging ability of P.granatum was found to be 81.83 %, and the absorbance was found to be 0.126 at 700nm showed good reducing ability. Morinda ctrifolia exhibited good hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. The extracts were screened for antibacterial efficacy against food borne pathogens Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes and Listeria monocytogenes. Irrespective of polyphenol content and antioxidant activities, the extracts exhibited species dependent antibacterial activity. Morinda ctrifolia exhibited good antibacterial property against all the tested strains.

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