ABSTRACT
Background: Ethanolic, aqueous, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves of Chromolaena odorata were studied for their antimicrobial activity. Twelve bacterial species, including six Gram-positive and six Gram-negative bacteria viz. Vibrio cholerae, Shigella sonnei, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella paratyphi A, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus citreus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, nonpathogenic Mycobacterium gordonae and Mycobacterium fortuitum along with fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger were studied. Methods: This study involved antibiotic sensitivity testing of extracts against a wide spectrum of micro-organisms, to determine the antimicrobial activity of the plant. Results: Initial phytochemical testing unveiled the chemical constituents of C. odorata as saponins, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and proteins. The zone of inhibition for the respective extracts was compared with the zone of the standard antibiotic and was found to be quite effective. Conclusions: The ethanolic extract of C. odorata exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. The plant extracts could be used to treat resistant form of prevailing infections. Successful antimicrobial drugs can be developed out of these extracts if specific compounds are isolated and purified.