EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTI-HISTAMINE ACTIVITY OF THE AERIAL PARTS OF TEPHROSIA PURPUREA L.

Abstract

Tephrosia purpurea (Fabaceae) has been used as a medicinal plant in all over India. This plant is a much branched perennial herb. Roots are given orally against any type of poisoning such as snakebite and the aerial parts were used for hydrophobia, asthma, cough, heart disease and kidney problems. Anti- microbial activity of 50% alcoholic extract with different concentrations were tested against the fungal strains like Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger, Ganoderma lucida and Candida albicans and bacterial organisms like Escherichia coli, Serratia mercescens, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermis. The 50% alcoholic extract of Tephrosia purpurea at 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg concentration showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus. Extracts of Tephrosia purpurea at 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg concentration did not show positive antifungal activities against Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger, Ganoderma lucida and Candida albicans. Antihistamine activity of 50% alcohol extract of Tephrosia purpurea (TP) was evaluated in isolated guinea pig ileum. It was observed that different concentrations (2mg, 4mg and 8mg/ml) of TP extract antagonized the contraction of ileum induced by histamine. The extracts at 8mg/ml concentration expected maximum antagonistic. The results obtained with histamine in guinea-pig isolated ileum preparations are sensitive to histamine against like histamine at the lower concentration