Abstract

ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ECLIPTA PROSTRATA (L.) L.

*Meenakshi Vaidya and Mrunalini Sambhare

Abstract

Medicinal plants are gaining importance in the perspective of modern medicine. Individual parts of the medicinal plant have distinct characteristics. Medicinal plants have no side effects when used for the treatment of specific disorders. Eclipta prostrata Linn is an annual, erect, branched often rooting at the nodes; stem and branches stirgose with appressed white hairs. It is commonly called Bhringaraja and it is acrid, bitter, hot and dry reduces kapha and vaata and is a good rejuvenator. It is good for the hair and skin, expels intestinal worms, cures cough and asthma and strengthens body. It is a specific in night blindness, eye diseases, headache and diseases pertaining to hair and its growth. For the present study of antimicrobial activity the plant Eclipta prostrata Linn. was selected & studied. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa & Candida albicans were used as test organisms. The extracts of the above plant parts were studied using Agar well diffusion assay. Zones of inhibition of different treatment groups were measured and compared.

Keywords: Eclipta prostrata, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa ,Candida albicans, anti-microbial.