"ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF AN ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES (GLORIOSA SUPERBA LINN.)"

Abstract

Herbal drugs are of great importance due to the easier availability and their lower cost. In spite of the side effects of the synthetic antibiotics and therapeutic drugs, natural herbs still remain as one of the best pool of new structural type. The use of natural drugs in the present time due to the demerits of synthetic drugs, are best alternatives. Therefore, the present study is based mainly on the Antimicrobial efficacy of acetone, ethanol, methanol and hexane extracts of Gloriosa superba L. The root and stem part of the plant  was taken for evaluating the antimicrobial activity of the plant against selected test organisms such as E.coli, S.aureus, A.niger and A.flavus. Almost all the extracts showed Antimicrobial activity against tested organisms, comparable to the standards used (Ampicilin against bacteria, and Fluconazole against fungi) and even higher than standard drugs in some extracts. The acetone extract of the plant showed the highest antifungal activity against E.coli.