Broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal properties of certain traditionally used Indian medicinal plants.
Farrukh Aqil, Iqbal Ahmad
Author Affiliation: Department of Agricultural Microbiology, RAK Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India.
World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology 19 : 653-657
Abstract : Ethanolic extracts of 22 traditionally used Indian medicinal plants were studied for their antimicrobial activity against seven bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, S. paratyphi, S. typhi, E. coli, Shigella dysenteriae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), five filamentous fungi (Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Rhizoctonia bataticola [Macrophomina phaseolina] and Trichoderma viride) and a yeast (Candida albicans). Of these, 16 plant extracts showed varied level of antibacterial activity against one or more test bacteria. Similarly antifungal and anticandidal activity was detected among 17 and 9 plant extracts respectively. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity (both antibacterial and antifungal) was detected among crude extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum [Kalanchoe pinnata] (leaves), Caesalpinia bonducella [C. bonduc] (seeds), Delonix regia (flower), Hedychium spicatum (fruits), Mangifera indica (leaves), Murraya koenigii (leaves) and Syzgium cumini (seeds). Similarly extracts of Cichorium intybus (roots), Ficus religiosa (leaves) and Trigonella foenum-graecum (leaves) demonstrated more antibacterial activity with less antifungal activity. On the other hand Pistacia integerrima [P. chinensis subsp. integerrima] (stems) and Rheum emodi (roots) demonstrated more antifungal activity with less antibacterial activity.