Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of leaf extract of Valeriana wallichii DC

ABSTRACT

Valeriana wallichii DC [Valerianaceae] is one of the most widely used traditional remedies for various complications associated with nervous system and digestion. No antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory studies have so far been carried out on the aerial parts of the plant. The present work was focused to evaluate the antimicrobial [antifungal and antibacterial] and anti-inflammatory properties of Valeriana wallichii using reported methods. Chloroform fraction [VW-2] and hexane fraction [VW-3] exhibited significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilus, respectively. The chloroform fraction [VW-2] showed significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus with 0.27 mg/ml MIC, where 0.31 mg/ml MIC was deduced for hexaune fraction [VW-3] against Bacillus subtilus. Hexaune fraction [VW-3] was also found to be the most potent inhibitor of Microsporum canis, showing 70% inhibition with an MIC value of 0.19 mg/ml. Considerable inhibitory activity was also observed for Chloroform fraction [VW-2] and water fraction [VW-6] against Microsporum canis and Aspergillus flavus. A remarkable anti-inflammatory like activity was observed for the crude extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg at all observed durations. Other doses of the sample also showed excellent activity. Looking to these results it may be concluded that Valeriana wallichii may be a potential source for activity guided isolation of natural products with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory-like properties