ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF FOUR WESTERN HIMALAYAN PLANTS

Abstract

The antibacterial activities and phytochemical analysis of crude extracts of four indigenous plants (Acorus calamus, Euphorbia hirta, Solanum surattense and Taxus baccata) grown in Garhwal Hills region of western Himalaya, India were tested against pathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus cereus. Solvent extraction of investigated plants parts was performed using ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, aqueous and chloroform. Determination of the antibacterial activities revealed that aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts of Acorus calamus and Euphorbia hirta significantly inhibited most of the pathogens while, in case of Taxus baccata and Solanum surattense solvent extracts moderately suppressed the pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values calculated for Solanum ranged 80 mg/ml–100 mg/ml. Taxus leaves MIC range were fell between 20 mg/ml – 60 mg/ml. A. calamus gave lowest and most promising MIC value of 6 mg/ml against S. auerus and 8 mg/ml against both K. pneumoniae and E. coli, however, the zones of inhibitions were also on lower side and Euphorbia hirta measured MIC range of 25 mg/ml – 100 mg/ml. Phytochemical analysis of these plants recorded presence of almost all major phytonutrients. The research outcome leads to conclusion that these four plants extracts possess antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacterial strains.