In vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy of Aristolochia indica Linn.: An Important Medicinal Plant

Abstract

Aim: Aristolochia indica Linn. is a medicinal plant used to cure various forms of bowel complaints, fever and skin disease. Hence in the present study this plant was tested for its antimicrobial efficacy against the microbes causing such diseases. Method: Three solvent (methanol, petroleum ether and chloroform) extracts of leaf of Aristolochia indica Linn. were tested for antimicrobial efficacy using disc diffusion method against six selected pathogenic micro-organisms: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhii, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Propionibacterium acnes and Candida albicans. Results: The extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Propionibacterium acnes and Candida albicans. Conclusion: In the present study, three different solvent extracts of the selected plant have shown antimicrobial activity against three microbes. These results have paved way for the further studies relating to the isolation of secondary metabolites of this plant responsible for antimicrobial activity and their usage in antibiotic drug formulations.

Keywords: Aristolochia indica, antimicrobial activity, leaf extract

Cite this Article

Rajanna L, Shailaja Sharma GS. In vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy of Aristolochia indica Linn.: An Important Medicinal Plant. Research & Reviews: Journal of Botany. 2017; 6(3): 1–6p.