Dr. Ekta Menghani

Screening of Indian Medicinal Plants and their potentials as Antimicrobial Agents

Ethanol extracts of certain Indian Medicinal Plants Curculigo orchioides Symplocos racemosa, Puerariatuberosa, Scindapsus officinarum, Luffa acutangula and Acacia nilotica were examined for their anti-microbial potentials against selected bacteria and fungi. The purpose of screening is to justify, authenticate and validate the use of Indian Medicinal Plants in ethno-medicinal or folklore as traditional treasure to cure various ailments. In present investigations attempts were made to screen the Indian Medicinal Plants as antibiotics. The extracts were tested against selected test bacteria and fungi as antimicrobial assay through disc diffusion assay where standard tetracycline is used and solvent ethanol as control. Indian Medicinal Plants have a traditional background that they have potentials to use as antimicrobial agents. The results showed that all the extracts possess good antimicrobial activity against selected test bacteria and intermediate against fungus. The present results therefore offer a scientific basis for traditional use of ethanolic extracts Curculigo orchioides, Symplocos racemosa, Pueraria tuberosa, Scindapsus officinarum, Luffa acutangula and Acacia nilotica. These results explain that certain plants showed potential antimicrobial activity against S. aureus negative can be used as a very good treatment for acne if added to daily diet. Further, almost all the selected plants have also possessed antimicrobial potentials against all test bacteria and fungi which explains that their use in daily life will generate a resistant or immunity to fight against microorganisms.