ANTIMICROBIAL STUDY OF CUSCUTA REFLEXA COLLECTED IN DIFFERENT SEASONS

Abstract

Antimicrobial agents are natural killer of invading micro organisms. The major advantages of these agents are their ability to cause selective toxicity on the target without hampering the natural balance. Cuscuta reflexa is a parasitic plant and is used as appetizer, digestive, liver stimulant, anthelmentic and reduces intestinal motility. It is also reported to have anti-microbial activity and for establishing the best variety, six samples of the plant were collected in six different seasons to evaluate the anti-microbial effect on different pathogens. Anti-microbial activity were studied using ethanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa on pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, E. coli, Micrococcus luteus, Psedomonas aeroginosa. MHA agar plates were prepared using pour plate method. The zone of inhibition was calculated and results revealed that maximum activity was shown for Staphylococcus aureus , Psedomonas aeroginosa, E. coli and the sample of plant which was collected in the rainy season showed maximum zone of inhibition in case of Psedomonas aeroginosa and E. coli. The sample of plant collected during the spring season showed maximum activity in case of Staphylococcus aureus.