Preliminary screening of malaysian plants for antimicrobial activity

ABSTRACT

The alcoholic extract of 85 Malaysian higher plants belonging to 31 different families was assayed for antimicrobial activity against 12 bacteria, 3 fungi, 6 Candida/yeast and one flagellate. The evaluation tests for the antimicrobial activities were performed using the filter paper disc diffusion and tube dilution assays. Solanum nigrum [Solanaceae], Lawsonia inermis [Lecythidaceae], Phyllanthus niruri [Euphorbiaceae], and Spondias dulcis [Anacardiaceae] extracts exhibited strong antimicrobial activities against the tested microorganisms. However, L. inermis extract displayed strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Cunninghamella elegans. 6 other extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activities as compared to streptomycin and nystatin standard antibiotics