Antimicrobial activity of extracts of Marchantia polymorpha

Abstract

The crude methanol and flavonoid (free and bound) extracts of Marchantia polymorpha L. (Marchantiaceae) were screened against three bacterial strains, viz., Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis (Gram negative), and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive), and four fungal strains, viz., Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Candida albicans, and Trychophyton mentagrophytes. Disk diffusion and microbroth dilution techniques were performed for evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the extracts. Total activity of extracts (mL) against each sensitive pathogen was also evaluated. Methanol and free flavonoid extract showed best activity against S. aureus (IZ 20.6 and 19.6 mm, MIC 0.281 and 0.312 mg/mL, MBC 1.125 and 0.312 mg/mL, respectively). However, all the microorganisms were found to be sensitive against the extracts tested. Total activity for P. mirabilis and S. aureus for methanol extract was found to be the same (124 mL), but was maximum for free flavonoid against C. albicans (199 mL). The current study indicates that the tested extracts of Marchantia polymorpha may be exploited for antimicrobial drugs in the future. © 2008 Informa UK Ltd.