ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF EIGHT MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN INDIA

Ethanolic extracts of some Indian plant species used in folk medicine were investigated for their antimicrobial activities against bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Zones of inhibition were observed in disc diffusion for antimicrobial investigation against Gram-positive and Gram negative pathogenic bacteria. The plants showed 80% of antimicrobial activity, with significant difference in activity between the different plants. The most antimicrobially active plants were Hyptis suaveolens and Cyperus rotundus, whereas, the least active plant was Couroupita guianensis. The ethanolic extracts showed activity against both Gram positive and negative bacteria.