Abstract

The extracts of Mimusops elengi L. (family: Sapotaceae) bark, fruit and seed were evaluated for antibacterial activity by using spectrophotomertic method against gram positive and gram negative strains viz. Nocardia asteroids NRRL 174,Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10240, Bacillus subtilis PCSIRB 248, Bacillus licheniformis NCL 2024, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 29425 and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all active extracts of M. elengi was calculated using macro dilution method. The fruit and seed extracts were found inactive, while stem bark extracts showed antibacterial activity against all 6 bacterium. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest % age inhibition (84.5 % age, MIC = 0.6 mg/ml) against B. subtilis. The aqueous methanol (2:8) extract also showed significant results with 74.9% age inhibition (MIC = 0.9 mg/ml) against N. asteroids. The results were compared with standard antibacterial drugs (streptomycin and ampicillin).

Key words: Antimicrobial activities, medicinal plants, Mimusops elengi.