No abstract

Azadirachta indica (Neem) is an herbal plant widely distributed in our subcontinent during all seasons. This study was carried out to detect the effect of Azadirachta indica (Neem) leave extract on some selected bacteria. The prospective study was carried out during the period of July 2005 to June 2006. Micro-organisms which are commonly responsible for infection in our country such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were considered. Extract of Neem leave that is Aqueous Neem leave extract (ANLE) was prepared by filtration and evaporation. Effect against bacteria was examined by detection of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by using ‘Broth dilution method’ and by detection of bacterial susceptibility by ‘Agar disc diffusion method’ and compare with cefepime. For ANLE the MICs against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia Coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 800 μg/ml, 1200 μg/ml, 1400 μg/ml and 1400 μg/ml respectively. With those MICs the average diameter of zone of inhibition against staphylococcus aureus with ANLE and cefepime was 20mm and 30mm respectively. Salmonella typhi exhibit sensitivity with zone of inhibition of 19mm, 26.5mm against ANLE and cefepime. Escherichia coli were sensitive against ANLE and cefepime with 17.5mm, 23.5mm zone of inhibition respectively. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa zone of inhibition was 16mm, and 21mm by ANLE, and cefepime respectively. Aqueous Leave extract of Azadirachta indica (Neem) have antibacterial activity against ‘staphylococcus aureus, salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa’ compared with Cefepime. Among all test bacteria staphylococcus aureus has lowest MICs.

Lindernia crustacea (L.) F. Muell is one of the commonly used medicinal plants native to India, Indonesia and Malaysia. In the present investigation antibacterial activity of leaf and stem petroleum ether and methanolic extracts was performed at 25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml, 75 µg/ml and 100 µg/ml concentrations and anthelminthic activity of leaf methanolic extract was performed at 25 µg/ml, 75 µg/ml and 100 µg/ml concentrations. The powdered leaf and stem were extracted by soxhlation and the phytochemical screening of the extracts was performed for detection of phytoconstituents. The leaf petroleum ether and methanolic extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, tannins and glycosides, whereas the stem petroleum ether and methanolic extracts showed alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids and tannins. Antibacterial activity was performed by cup and plate method using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with Penicillin G as standard. Antibacterial activity was not found in both stem and leaf extracts. Anthelminthic activity was performed using Indian earthworm, with albendazole as standard drug. The leaf methanolic extract showed significant anthelminthic activity at 100 µg/ml with paralysis time of 58±3.978 and death time of 79±4.796 as compared with standard drug. The anthelminthic activity of methanolic extract might be due the presence of phytoconstituents as identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.