Antimicrobial efficiency of and against and .

BACKGROUND

The application of traditional medicinal plants and their products for treatment has been an integral part of our culture and continues to play a key role as many infectious microorganisms are resistant to synthetic drugs. and herbs have shown medicinal properties and have gained importance in modern research.

AIMS

This study assessed the antimicrobial activities of and against and to conventional medications such as chlorhexidine and nystatin.

METHODOLOGY

The and were grown and maintained on Columbia agar plates and yeast malt extract agar respectively. An ethanolic extract was made and subjected to rotary evaporation to remove the ethanol. The antimicrobial activity of plant extracts was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The standard drugs, 10 μg/disc nystatin and 0.12% chlorhexidine, were used as a positive control. The zone of inhibition was measured after 24 hours.

RESULTS

At a concentration of 3 mgs., the zone of inhibition of 25.6 mm was found with followed by 15.8 mm with against and 0.12% chlorhexidine, at 21.7 ± 0.43 mm. A zone of inhibition of 23 mm and 22.9 mm was observed in both and against respectively. Positive control of nystatin showed 26.1 ± 0.46 mm.

CONCLUSION

has better antimicrobial activity against compared to . Whereas at higher concentrations, both extracts were effective against