Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF NELUMBO NUCIFERA (GAERTN.) FLOWER EXTRACTS AGAINST GRAMPOSITIVE AND GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA

Manoj Kumar and Gitika

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) flower extracts in different solvents (methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous) was studied against gram-positive (Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis) as well as gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). The extracts were tested for the presence of antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion assay (AWDA) method. The patterns of inhibition varied with the solvent used for extraction and the organisms tested. The results showed that M. luteus and B. subtilis were highly susceptible to the extracts of N. nucifera as compared with the E. coli. The methanolic extract of N. nucifera was the most effective as the widest inhibitory zone was observed as compared to the ethanolic as well as aqueous extract used. The remarkable antibacterial activity of the extracts against these gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria suggests that there is a scientific basis for its utilization as antibacterial agents in designing and developing new drugs.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Nelumbo nucifera; Solvents; Zone of Inhibition.