AN ASSESSMENT OF IN-VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA -A SCREENING STUDY

Abstract

Andrographis paniculata (Acanthaceae) is a potent medicinal plant in the Indian systems of medicine. Traditionally the leaves are used to treat influenza, bronchitis, gonorrohea, cholera, fertility and anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-snake venom etc. The present study describes the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity of Andrographis paniculata. For the present investigation, samples of A. paniculata extracts, obtained by extraction in ethanol,were used for their antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activities were assessed by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zones and MIC. This is the first report on analysis of antimicrobial components from A. paniculata, and our results confer the utility of this plant extract in developing a novel broad spectrum antimicrobial agent. Antimicrobial activity of extract of Andrographis paniculata was studied using ethanol against bacterial strains like Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa. E.coli and strains of fungi which are Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Mucorindicus, Rhizopus sp., Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity was determined by well diffusion method and MIC for fungal strains.