Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre

Abstract

The present study was designed with the main aim to evaluate antimicrobial activity of aqueous leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre against pathogenic microorganisms. Leaves of G. sylvestre was subjected to successive solvent extraction by continuous hot extraction (Soxhlet) with water. The extracts were diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) before testing the antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of extract for B. subtilis, K. aerogenus, S. aureus, E. coli, A. niger and P. chrysogenium was determined by agar well diffusion technique. The results of the present study revealed that aq. leaf extract of G. Sylvestre exhibited zones of inhibition at 100 mg/ml concentration. Aq. leaf extract of G. sylvestre exhibited zone of inhibition zone bacterial species like B. subtilis (10.55 mm), K. aerogenus (11.00 mm), S. aureus (8.50 mm), E. coli (12.50 mm), and against fungal species like A. niger (10.00 mm). In conclusion, present preliminary study delineated that the aqueous extract of G. sylvestre possesses considerable antimicrobial activities against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, K. aerogenes and A. niger. Hence, further experiments like isolation and purification of phytoactives of G. sylvestre responsible for antimicrobial activities could be recommended to carry out to further enhance the antimicrobial activities of phytoactives present in aq. leaf extract of G. sylvestre.