Evaluation of in vitro antibacterial property of some plants of subtropical climate against Rhodococcus equi

Abstract

The present study was planned to investigate in vitro antibacterial activity of ethanolic, chloroformic and SEWE (Sequentially Extracted Water Extract) extracts of Capparis decidua (leafless branches), Salvadora oleoides (pod tumours), Prosopis cineraria (pod tumours & leaves), Ailanthus excelsa (bark & leaves), Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad (fruits & leaves) and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (leaves) against Vap A and Vap C positive Rhodococcus equi. In initial screening ethanolic extract of these plants except Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., were non-active against R. equi. Ethanolic and chloroformic leaves extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. showed moderate while SEWE showed good in vitro antibacterial activity against R. equi. Further, solvent based fractionation of polar and non-polar compounds did not showed in vitro antibacterial activity against R. equi. On comparison with currently used antibiotics (azithromycin and rifampicin), required concentration of the leaves extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. was too high for their possibilities of invivo use, so abundant availability of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. leaves and their activity against R. equi suggests their potential for use as disinfectant against R. equi.