Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of various extracts (viz. methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate) of Thuja orientalis and its preliminary phytochemical screening. In vitro antimicrobial activity was tested by agar well diffusion assay against human pathogenic microbes which are Gram positive (viz. S. aureus andB. subtilis), Gram negative bacteria (viz. P. aeruginosa, A. faecalis and K. pneumoniae) and fungi (A. flavus and A. niger). Methanol and acetone extract of leaf exhibited maximum activity against B. subtilis with zones of inhibition of 20.33 mm and 17.83 mm, respectively. All the extracts of stem were found to be most effective against P. aeruginosa. S. aureus was found to be sensitive to leaf extracts prepared in methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate with 13.66, 14.03 and 15.00 mm zone of inhibition, respectively.A. flavus and A. niger, both were found to be sensitive towards the methanol extract of leaf with inhibition zones of 15.50 and 16.00 mm, respectively compared to fungicides (viz. ketoconazole and fluconozole). Methanol extract of leaf and ethyl acetate extract of stem exhibit marked antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa, which was comparable to standard antibiotics (that is, penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline and streptomycin). It was also observed that leaf extracts were more effective as compared tostem extracts of the plant. Thus, Thuja orientalis could be considered as potential source of natural antimicrobials used for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections. Key words: Plant extracts, antibacterial activity, minimal inhibitory concentration, phytochemical screening.
Highlights
Plant material based traditional medicines are readily available in rural areas at relatively cheaper than modern medicine (Mann et al, 2008)
In vitro antimicrobial activity was tested by agar well diffusion assay against human pathogenic microbes which are Gram positive, Gram negative bacteria and fungi (A. flavus and A. niger)
The results reveal that acetone and methanol extracts of leaf are potent antimicrobials against the above mentioned three pathogenic bacteria and two fungi studied and were acceptable with respect to the standard antibiotics and fungicides (Figure 2)
Summary
Plant material based traditional medicines are readily available in rural areas at relatively cheaper than modern medicine (Mann et al, 2008). According to World Health Organization, medicinal plants would be the best source to obtain a variety of drugs. Such plants should be investigated to better understand their properties, safety and efficacy (Nascimento et al, 2000). The effects of plant extracts on bacteria have been studied by a very large number of researchers in different parts of the world (Reddy et al, 2001; Ateb and Urul, 2003). Based on the above fact, in the present study, various extracts of stem and leaf of Thuja orientalis were screened for their antimicrobial activity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
