In vitro antimicrobial activity of leaves and bark extracts of Ficus religiosa (Linn.)

Abstract

In the present study we investigated antimicrobial activity of diethyl ether and methanol extractions of bark and leaves of Ficus religiosa plant against three bacteria (E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aurignosa) and one fungi (Aspergillus niger). The results showed that the methanol extracts of both leaves and bark showed antimicrobial activity on three tested bacteria and no effect on A.niger. In methanol extracts S.aureus showed maximum sensitivity (inhibition zone 28mm) followed by E.coli (inhibition zone 16mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (inhibition zone 12mm). Diethyl ether extracts of leaves were also showed maximum inhibition on S.aureus followed by E.coli and P.aeruginosa. Both methanol and diethyl ether extracts of bark showed antimicrobial activity on three types of tested bacteria and very less inhibition activity on A.niger. But comparatively bark extracts of both the solvents were showed less antimicrobial activity than leaves extracts on the tested microbes.