Anti-Microbial Potential of two Traditional Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Background: Consumers as well as scientific community all over the world, including developed countries are becoming disillusioned with modern health care and are seeking alternatives. In current scenario, it is a better option to capture the wisdom of traditional healing systems, and this would lead to basic scientific investigation on the medicinal plants, to exploit the natural bioactive sources for safe and easily approachable natural therapeutic agent. Objective: The main objective of the study is to find out anti-microbial potential of two important traditional medicinal plants, Pittosporum crassifolium and Citrullus colocynthis Linn. Study Design: Experimental study. Settings: Different departments of school of Pharmacy, Pathology and Biochemistry of University Medical & Dental College/ The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad Pakistan. Duration: October 2017 to February 2018. Methodology: Antibiotic assay is performed by using the disc diffusion methods. The extracts of plants are prepared and from theses sensitivity disc are prepared. Standard size inoculum is also prepared. Then by using the standard disc diffusion method, the zones of inhibitions produced by plant extracts are measured and recorded in mm and are compared with positive & negative controls. Results: Extracts of two medicinal plants (Pittosporum crassifolium and Citrullus colocynthis Linn) were assessed for their antimicrobial activities against medically significant pathogenic bacterial strains capable of causing wide varieties of ailments (Infectious diseases). All plant extracts tested, showed significant antimicrobial activity against test organism (Gram negative and Gram positive), with zone of inhibition 8.33±0.33l to 19.00±2.67. Ethanol extracts prepared by soxhlet apparatus showed better results compared with extracts prepared by simple maceration process. Furthermore, over all ethanol extract showed better results compared with chloroform and aqueous extracts. Conclusion: This study revealed the presence of natural bioactive compounds in both plants with highly significant broad spectrum antibacterial potential against all test organisms.