Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Five Medicinal Plants Against Different Microbes

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of selected medicinal plants (Achyranthes bidentata, Linum usitatissimum, Pedalium murex, Sphaeranthus indicus and, Terminalia bellirica) extracts against seven different microorganisms Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, and Streptococcus mutants. Leaf, root, and flower extracts of plants were prepared in different solvents like methanol, distilled water, dichloromethane, ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, petroleum ether, propanol, benzene, and hexane. All the prepared extracts showed very good antimicrobial activity except distilled water extract. Most of the extracts were found to have antimicrobial potential against pathogens but Linum usitatissimum and T. bellirica leaf and seed extract prepared in methanol and chloroform solvents show a higher zone of inhibition against E. coli. Only Linum usitatissimum shows activity aganist Candida albicans. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration for Achyranthes bidentata extracts varied from 150µl/ml to 200µl/ml in different solvents. Antioxidant studies were carried out in methanolic extracts of all the plants. The maximum scavenging activity of methanolic leaf extracts was observed between 80 -100 μg/ml concentrations.