In vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial Activities of Crude Extracts of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to Bacterial Pathogens (original) (raw)

Research Article

Shanthy Sundaram
Centre for Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

Priyanka Dwivedi
Centre for Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

Shalini Purwar
Centre for Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

The present aim of study is to detect the antibacterial property in the extracts of Withania somnifera. The antibacterial activity of Withania somnifera was tested on clinically isolated bacterial pathogens, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis causing infections in human beings. Different solvents as ethanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, hexane (from higher polarity to lower polarity) extracts was used for the study of antibacterial activity, by agar well diffusion method. The bacterial plates were prepared by nutrient agar. The extracts at different concentration from 10 to 40 mg mL-1 were loaded in the wells prepared in nutrient agar. Zone of inhibition was measured around the wells to check the antibacterial activity of extracts. Results showed the polar solvents to have higher antibacterial property in comparison to the nonpolar solvents. Relatively higher Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were obtained for both gram positive bacteria S. aureus, B. subtilis and gram negative bacteria, E. coli and P. aeruginosa, with polar extract; however, less inhibitory effect was noted for nonpolar extracts. Ethyl acetate extract possesses great inhibitory activity for gram positive bacteria, S. aureus followed by B. subtilis. Among gram negative bacteria, highest inhibitory effect was observed with P. aeruginosa followed by E. coli. Antimicrobial activity of crude extract of W. somnifera were carried out to validate the use of traditional medicinal herbal and the results of this study tend to give credence to the common use of W. somnifera plant.

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How to cite this article

Shanthy Sundaram, Priyanka Dwivedi and Shalini Purwar, 2011. In vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial Activities of Crude Extracts of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to Bacterial Pathogens. Asian Journal of Biotechnology, 3: 194-199.

DOI: 10.3923/ajbkr.2011.194.199

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajbkr.2011.194.199

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