Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AESCULUS INDICA SEEDS

*Harpreet singh, Arvind Kumar, Ankita Verma

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial activity of crude ethanolic extract of the dried seeds of Aesculus indica (A.indica) was investigated. For A.indica (10-2kg/ltr) & Ampicilin trihydrate (10-4 kg/ltr) mean diameter of zone of inhibition were 2.95 × 10-2 m,3.95 × 10-2 m,3.95 × 10-2 m and 3.85 × 10-2 m for two strains of bacteria Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Escherichia coli (E.coli) respectively . The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (kg/ltr) of the A. indica ethanolic extract for the two strains of bacteria B. subtilis , E.coli, were 125 × 10-6 kg/ltr,500 × 10-6 kg/ltr respectively. The ethanolic extracts exhibited appreciable activity against all the fungal species investigated. The mean diameter of zones of inhibition against the test fungal species Candida albicans (C.albicans), Aspergillus flavus(A. flavus) were 2.90 × 10-2 m ,2.80 × 10-2 m , 3.90 × 10-2 m , 3.75 × 10-2 m for A.indica (10-2 kg/ltr) , Amphotericin B (10-4 kg/ltr) respectively. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (kg/ltr) of the A .indica ethanolic extract for the two strains of Fungi C.albicans,A. flavus, were 250 × 10-6 kg/ltr ,125 × 10-6 kg/ltr respectively. The ability of the dried seeds extracts of A. indica to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi is an indication of its broad spectrum antimicrobial potential which may be employed in the management of microbial infections.

Keywords: Aesculus indica, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus.