An in vitro antimicrobial activity of calotropis procera (Ait). R.Br. extracts on certain groups of pathogenic microorganisms

Abstract

Leaves, stems, fruits, roots and latex of Calotropis procera extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against four types of bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Eschreiashia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Two species of fungi i.e., Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans were also bioassayed for their response when the extracts were used. All of the plant extracts irrespective of their types, inhibited the growth of all microbes to varying degrees. Aqueous extract showed strong and superior antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains especially with regard to gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) as compared to methanol or chloroform. Less or no activity was observed against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans in some of the extracts used. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of the different extracts was 10 mg mL-1 in chloroform extract against Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis and it was 25 mg mL-1 in methanol extract against Candida albicans and aqueous extract for E. coli. It was clearly noticed that the latex of the plant had a broad spectrum activity against all of the bacteria and fungi in all of the tested extracts. These findings support the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of different infections in the area. © Medwell Journals, 2012.