Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS OF PIPER BETEL LEAVES AGAINST SOME COMMON PATHOGENS

V. P. Sutar*

Abstract

The Piper betel leaves were tested for antimicrobial activity. The extract of dried leaves were prepared in ethanol, methanol and tested against some common pathogens namely Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. All the pathogens were found susceptible to extract in both solvents. The diameter of zone of inhibition for ethanol extract was greater than the methanol extract. The MIC value was calculated for each pathogen for both extracts and found that MIC value for ethanol and methanol extract was similar for all pathogen except for E.coli. The extracts were more potent against Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC value of 31.25 μg/ml.

Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Piper betel, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).