Antimicrobial activity of Clerodendrum viscosum (Verbenaceae)

The crude extracts of Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. (Verbenaceae) were tested in different solvent systems against six gram positive bacterial strains, viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Sercinia lutea, Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, B. cereus and Streptococcus-β–haemolyticus, nine gram negative bacterial strains, viz., Salmonellae typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, S. shiga, S. boydii, S. sonnei, Proteus sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonus aeruginosa and seven fungal strains, viz., Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, Candida albicans, Vasin factum, Mucor sp. and Fusarium oxysporum by using disc diffusion and micro broth dilution techniques. All the extracts possessed antimicrobial activity with different potency against a variety of microorganisms pathogenic to human beings. Some extracts were bacteriostatic and fungistatic, while rest of the extracts showed bactericidal and fungicidal potential. The MIC values (64-128 μg/mL) of ethyl alcohol extract were determined against each gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains; S. aureus, B. subtilis, S.-β–haemolyticus, S. typhi, E. coli and Klebsiella sp. For cytotoxic experiment, ethyl alcohol root extract was more toxic (LC50 20.845 ppm) than other extracts analyzed in Brine shrimp test. The results of the potential of C. viscosum will be creative for developing a broad spectrum antimicrobial formulation. © 2011 Friends Science Publishers