ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SESBANIA GRANDIFLORA (L.) PERS .

Abstract

Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers is a plant that is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of cold,fever, stomach disorder, diarrhea and jaundice and as skin cleanser. To evaluate the scientific basis for the use of the plant, the antimicrobial activities of extracts of the stem bark and leaves were evaluated against some common gram negative and gram positive bacteria and fungi. The study also investigated the chemical constituents of the plant and the effect of temperature and pH on its antimicrobial activity. Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers has broad spectrum antibacterial activity and a potential source ofnew classes of antibiotics that could be useful for infectious disease chemotherapy and control.The phytochemical constituents of the dried powdered plant parts were extracted using aqueous and organic solvents (acetone and ethanol). The antimicrobial activity of the concentrated extracts was evaluated by determination of the diameter of zone of inhibition against both gram negative and gram positive bacteria and fungi using the disc diffusion method.