ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CAESALPINIA PULCHERRIMA FLOWERS

摘要

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Linn.) Popularly known as Peacock flower in India belongs to family Caesalpiniace. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the in-vitro antimicrobial potency of the ethanolic and aqueous extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Linn.) flower (CPF) using agar plate disk diffusion method against Escherichia coli, bacillus subtilis and streptococcus aureus. Cephalosporin (5|ìg/ml) use as a Standard drug. Results were subjected to minimum inhibitory concentration assay by two fold dilution method. Ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima was more effective against Escherichia coli, bacillus subtilis than aqueous extract and cephalosporin. While in case of streptococcus aureus aqueous extract is more effective than ethanolic extract and cephalosporin. Thus, the present study demonstrate that the traditional claim of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Linn.) flower as an antimicrobial has been confirmed as the aqueous and ethanolic extracts displayed activity against the different microorganism used in study