Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of hot water and ethanolic extracts of six plant extracts, utilized in Pakistan for the cure of liver damage, were studied. The extracts ofAcacia arabica, Nymphaea lotus, Sphareranthus hirtus, Emblica officinalis, Cinchorium intybus and Cardus marianum were tested in vitro against seven bacterial species and two fungal species by well-diffusion method and micro-dilution methods. The patterns of inhibition varied with the plant extracts, the solvent used for extraction and the organisms tested. Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeroginosa were the most inhibited microorganisms. The extract of Sphareranthu hirtus was the most active against multi-drug resistantPseudomonas aeruginosa and enterohemorrhagic E. coli 0157 EHEC. The ethanolic extract of S. hirtus exhibited a higher effect than the hot water extract. These plants extracts were analyzed for elemental composition.

Key words: Antimicrobial agents, plant extracts, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli 0157 EHEC, multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salm