EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF MIMUSOPS ELENGI L. FLOWERS AND TRICHOSANTHES CUCUMERINA L. FRUITS FROM SOUTH INDIA

摘要

The antibacterial activity of Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae) flowers and Trichosanthes cucumerina (Cucurbitaceae) fruits were evaluated. The antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the flowers of Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae) and fruits of Trichosanthes cucumerina (Cucurbitaceae) were screened against various pathogenic Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains viz. Bacillus cereus MTCC-1305, Enterobacter faecalis MTCC-5112, Salmonella paratyphi MTCC-735, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC-96, Escherichia coli MTCC-729, Proteus vulgaris MTCC-426, Klebsiella pneumoniae MTCC-109, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC-647 and Serratia marcescens MTCC-86 by 'agar well diffusion' method. The methanol extract of Mimusops elengi flower and Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit exhibited pronounced activity on all organisms tested and their activity is quite comparable with the standard antibiotics such as tobramycin, gentamicin sulphate, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin screened under similar conditions. The antimicrobial potency of these plant extracts is due to the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids and terpenoids. The study shows that the methanolic extract of Mimusops elengi flower and Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit can be used as a potential external antiseptic and can be incorporated into drug formulations