Antibacterial Activity of Some Selected Indian Medicinal Flora

Nine plants were screened for potential antibacterial activity. In evaluating antibacterial activity both aqueous and organic solvents were used. The plants screened were Sapindus emarginatus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Mirabilis jalapa, Rheo discolor, Nyctanthes arbortristis, Colocasia esculenta, Gracilaria corticata, Dictyota spps., and Pulicaria wightiana. Antibacterial activity was tested against 6 bacterial strains, Pseudomonas testosteroni, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus morganii, and Micrococcus flavus. Two methods, Agar disk diffusion and Agar ditch diffusion, were used to study the antibacterial activity of all these plants. Ps. testosteroni and K. pneumoniae were the most resistant bacterial strains. S. emarginatus showed strong activity against the tested bacterial strains. Therefore, this can be selected for further investigation to determine its therapeutic potential. Its leaf extract can also be used as a lead molecule in combating the diseases caused by the bacterial strains studied.