Antimicrobial studies on the extract of Benkara malabarica (Lam.) triveng and Tarenna asiatica (L.) kuntze Ex K. schum

Abstract

Extracts of Benkara malabarica (Lam.) Triveng (BM) and Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze ex K. Schum (TA) was screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity by agar disc diffusion method. The antimicrobial activity of Petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and acetone extracts of the leaves of these plants were studied using five bacterial cultures and the five fungal cultures as test organisms. Acetone extracts of BM and TA were found to be more effective for antibacterial against S.paratypi and P.aeruginosa and antifungal against M.rubes, respectively when compared to other extract of BM and TA and it reveals the presence of alkaloids and steroids respectively which suggests that these phytoconstituent may be responsible for their antimicrobial activity.