Antifungal and antibacterial activities of crude withanolides extract from the roots of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha)

Abstract

Ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal] is an important medicinal plant and its medicinal properties have been attributed to various classes of withanolide compounds. In the present study, we evaluated antifungal and antibacterial activities of withanolide extracted from roots of ashwagandha, against five pathogenic, fungi and bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of withanolides against two fungi, F. oxysporum and  A. brassica were observed to be  4826.25 and 4474.22 ppm respectively. Antibacterial activity of withanolide extract was tested against three bacteria, E. coli¸ Pseudomonas solanacearum and Pseudomonas vulgaris. The maximum zone of inhibition at 4000 ppm of withanolide  extract against  E. coli, P. solanacearum and P.vulgaris were observed to be 8.7mm, 12.1mm and 12.5mm respectively. Thus withanolides extract was found to be the inhibitor of pathogenic fungi and bacteria.