Abstract

COMPARATIVE PHARMACOLOGICAL (ANTIMICROBIAL) SCREENING OF AQUEOUS AND ALCOHOL ROOT EXTRACTS OF SHOOTS OF DENDROPHTHOE FALCATA

Ajmeesa Shantipriya*, Kalyani Jatoth, T Mangilal, Kishan Bookya

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to compare the ability of methanolic and aqueousextracts of shoots of dendrophthoe falcate for antimicrobial activity. An antimicrobial substance that kills or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, etc. About 2 kg of shade dried powder of shoots of dendrophthoe falcate was extracted with petroleum ether (60°- 80°) for 24 hrs by using soxhlet apparatus. After completion of extraction the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the extractive was determined.The marc left after petroleum ether extraction was dried and extracted with methanol for 24hrs. Methanolic and aqueous extracts of dendrophthoe falcate was established. Four human pathogenic microorganisms, such as Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, E. coli were used in the study for the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity. The more antimicrobial activity was found with aqueous extracts in the form of zone of inhibition (Shigella flexneri (17 mm), Staphylococcus epidermidis (25mm), Bacillus subtilis (20mm) and E. coli (22mm). All the strains shown zone of inhibition against aqueous extracts, but only two strains shown zone of inhibition against methanol extracts (Staphylococcus epidermidis (15mm), Bacillus subtilis (19mm).

Keywords: Antimicrobial, Dendrophthoe falcata, shoots, Methanolic and aqueous extracts.