Insignificant antimicrobial activities and phytochemical screening in different extracts of indian Ginseng

Abstract

Aim: The aim of present study is to investigate the antimicrobial activity of (Flower,
Ripen fruit and calyx) of Withania somnifera (RUBL20668) extracts, in order to use
them as a possible source of new antimicrobial substances against important human
pathogens. Materials and Methods: Crude extracts of different parts of both species
of W. somnifera were evaluated against some important bacteria (two Gram +ve and
four Gram-ve bacteria). Staphylococcus aureus (Gram +ve), Bacillus Subtilis (Gram +ve),
Escherichia coli (Gram-ve), Raoultella planticola (Gram-ve), Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(Gram-ve), Enterobactor aerogens (Gram-ve), one yeast Candida albicans and one fungus
Aspergillus flavus. The dried and powdered seeds were successively extracted with
hexane, toluene, iso propyl alcohol, acetone and ethanol, using the soxhlet assembly.
The antimicrobial activity assay was done by both disc diffusion and serial dilution
methods. Result: The results indicate that all the extracts in different polar solvents did
not show any antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, R. planticola or E. aerogens or
any antifungal activity against A. flavus. Conclusion: All extracts in the different polar
solvents did not have or had very less antibacterial and antifungal activities.