Abstract
The antibacterial activity and phytochemicals of the leaves of Stylosanthes fruticosa were evaluatedagainst three Gram-positive bacteria viz. Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus faecalis ,Staphylococcus aureusand five Gram-negative bacteria viz. Klebsiella pneumonia Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium ,and Proteus vulgaris. Both polar and nonpolar extracts viz. acetone, chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous extracts were prepared and studied for antibacterialactivity using disc diffusion method. The majority of the significant antibacterial activity was observed in the ethanol extracts. The other solvent extracts showed satisfactory results. In general, gram-negative bacteria are more resistant to antibiotics than gram-positive bacteria . The resistance is due to the differences in their cell wall composition. In gram-negative bacteria the outer membrane acts as a great barrier to many environmental substances including antibiotics. Presence of thick murine layer in the cell wall prevents the entry of the inhibitors . But our results revealed a controversy report that gram-positive bacteria are more susceptible to the crude extracts than gram-negative bacteria.. Theresults which are obtained with acetone, ethanol and chloroform extract ofleaf exhibited significant antibacterial activity, a property that supports traditional use of the plant inthe treatment of some diseases as broad spectrum antibacterial agents.
Highlights
Nature has been a source of medicinal agents since times immemorial
Antibacterial Activity (Disc Diffusion Method): The antibacterial activity of the ethanol, acetone and chloroform extracts Stylosanthes fruticosa evaluated by disc diffusion method against eight different pathogenic bacteria
The results were observed in terms of inhibition zone around each disc caused by diffusion of antibacterial substances from the plant extract impregnated disc into the surrounding medium
Summary
Nature has been a source of medicinal agents since times immemorial. The importance of herbs in the management of human ailments cannot be overemphasized. The active components of herbal remedies have the advantage of being combined with many other substances that appear to be inactive. These complementary components give the plant as a whole a safety and efficiency much superior to that of its isolated and pure active components[1]. There has been an increasing incidence of multiple resistances in human pathogenic microorganisms in recent years, largely due to indiscriminate use of commercial antimicrobial drugs commonly employed in thetreatment of infectious diseases. This has forced scientist to search for new substances from various sources like the medicinal plants. Traditional healing systems around the world that utilize herbal remedies are animportant source for IJPP VOL 2 ISSUE 4
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