Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: May | Volume: 9 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 304-311
Antimicrobial Activity of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Against Gram Negative Bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella flexneri and their Phytochemical Tests
Sumaiya Ismayil1, Nimila P.J2
1Research Scholar, 2Assistant Professor,
The Post Graduate Department of Zoology, St. Albert’s College, Ernakulam, Kochi 682018, Kerala.
Corresponding Author: Sumaiya Ismayil
ABSTRACT
Plectranthus amboinicus have remarkable properties, which has been investigated since ancient times. Scientific evidence stated that P. amboinicus is capable of cure from cough, chronic asthma, hiccup, bronchitis, helminthiasis, colic, convulsions, and epilepsy. This study was carried out with an objective to investigate the antibacterial potentials of leaves of P. amboinicus. The aim of the study is to assess the antimicrobial activity and to determine the zone of inhibition of extracts on bacterial strains. In the present study, the microbial activity of hydroalcohol extracts of leaves of P. amboinicus was evaluated for potential antimicrobial activity against medically important bacterial and fungal strains. The antimicrobial activity was determined in the extracts using agar well diffusion method. The antibacterial activities of extracts of P. amboinicus were tested against two Gram-negative bacteria- Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella flexneri. The findings revealed that P. amboinicus showed inhibition zone on the growth of K. pneumoniae and S. flexneri. It is therefore confirmed as a useful antimicrobial agent. The phytochemical analyses of the plants were carried out. The leaves of P. amboinicus rich in phytochemicals and secondary metabolites such as steroids, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids etc. which are probably responsible for its medicinal properties. The microbial activity of the P. amboinicus was due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. It therefore suggests that constituent of plant extract could serve as a source of drugs useful in the chemotherapy of enteric diseases. Hence, these plants can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in the development of new pharmaceuticals research activities.
Key words: Plectranthus amboinicus, antibacterial activity, agar well diffusion, phytochemical, secondary metabolites.