Abstract

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PLANTS OF HIMALAYAN REGION

*Savita Goyal Aggarwal

ABSTRACT

India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity centres having over 45000 plant species. Its diversity is unmatched due to the presence of 16 agroclimatic zones, 10 vegetative zones and 15 biotech provinces. Himalaya is the store house of medicinal plants. Of the 368 families and 2200 genera in which medicinal plants are recorded, the families Euphorbiacae, Laminaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiceae, saxifragaceae, Poaceae, Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae share the longer and the larger proportion of medicinal species with the highest number of species falling under Acanthaceae. Three plants from such families are taken to evaluate and compare their antibacterial activity. The leaves of tested planted are locally use for treatment of various diseases. The leaves and rhizomes are applied to heal old wounds. The leaves are also used as antiperiodic, alterative and insecticide. Fresh leaves are used topically in oedema of beriberi and rheumatism. The juice of leaves is reported to possess the property of stopping internal haemorrhage. The plant samples were collected, authenticated and stored. Different solvent extracts were prepared and tested for their antibacterial potential using different pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords: medicinal plants, antibacterial activity, pathogenic bacteria, solvent extracts