Ripen fruits of Indian ginseng: Phyto-chemical and pharmacological examination against human and plant pathogens.

ABSTRACT

The ripen fruit extracts of Withania somnifera were evaluated against medically important bacteria viz. Proteus merabilis, Klebsiella pnemoniae, Agerobacterium tumefaciens (plant pathogen) and one fungi Aspergillus niger. The dried and powdered ripen fruits were successively extracted with a series of non polar to polar solvents using soxhlet assembly. The antimicrobial assay was done by both disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Glacial acetic acid extract of W. somnifera show highest activity against A. tumefaciens (plant pathogen) and water extract against K. pnemoniae to varying degrees in the terms of high inhibition zone and activity index. A. tumefaciens was the most susceptible organism in compare to the other organism. Gentamycin and Ketoconazole, the standard antibacterial and antifungal used was effective against the bacteria and fungi. The extract of W. somnifera also significantly (P>0.005) inhibited the bacterial and fungal growth. The inhibitory effect is very identical in magnitude and comparable with that of standard antibiotics used.