IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF TWO MEDICINAL PLANTS AGAINST SOME CLINICALLY IMPORTANT BACTERIA

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Amaranthus viridis (Chowlai) and Cannabis sativa (Bhang) against clinically important bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The stem and leaf extracts of these plants were prepared in pure solvents, ethanol and methanol. Tetracycline was used as standard antibiotic for reference. Solvent extracts were screened for antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion method. The antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydazylhydrate (DPPH) method. A significantly high antimicrobial activity was observed in the ethanol leaf extracts of both plants with 13.8 to 21.33 mm zone of inhibition against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. The study revealed that leaves of A. viridis and C. sativa possess broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and natural antioxidants that can be of considerable pharmaceutical importance.