In-Vitro Trial of Roots of Ishwarmuli (Aristolochia indica Linn.) for Anti-Microbial, Anti-Fungal & Anti-Oxidant Activity

Abstract

Aristolochia indica is a plant belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae. The medicinal value of A. indica has been known in different system of traditional medicine including Ayurveda. A number of Aristolochia species has been used in herbal medicines throughout the world for the cure of several ailments including metabolic diseases to venomous bites of snake and insects. The current work was executed with an objective to explore the in vitro antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant activity of A. indica. The relevant literature was also pursued for the justification and comparing the resemblances in the results. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of roots of Aristolochia indica Linn. were tested for their inhibitory effect against 6 bacterial strains [Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae & Shigella flexneri] and 3 fungi strains [Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans]. Agar-well method was used for the assessment of in-vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of A. indica against selected standard bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration for each extract of various micro-organisms was also measured. Ethanolic extract of A. indica shows Minimum concentration (MIC) value of 50-100 μg/ml against selected bacterial strains which is better when compared to the aqueous extracts. Ethanolic extracts also showed moderate effects against the selected fungal strains, whereas the aqueous extracts failed to exhibit any effect even at higher concentrations.