Antibacterial analysis of crude extracts from the leaves of Tagetes erecta and Cannabis sativa

Abstract

Leaves of Tagetes erecta and cannabis sativa traditionally practiced in the treatments of boils, dysentery, indigestion and various skin infections. The aim of this study was on the one hand to extract crude alkaloid from the leaves of Tagetes and Cannabis plants and on the other hand to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activities of the crude extract against bacterial strains representative of skin, mouth and ear microflora and also against ~-strain of E.coli bacteria responsible for urinary tract infection in human beings by disc diffusion method. The active ingredient of Tagetes erecta and Cannabis sativa was identified as alkaloid by Mayer's and Dragendorff's test. The antimicrobial activities were compared with two standard anbiotics Chloramphenicol and Tetracycline.However, this study revealed maximum growth inhibition and effectiveness was remarkably observed in the extracts of Cannabis sativa and then in Tagetes erecta. These results indicate that leaves have a potential broad spectrum antibacterial activity.