The present study was aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of
Amorphophallus campanulatus (
family Araceae) commonly known as jangli suran. The root,
stem and leaf of A. campanulatus, extracted successively with polar (aqueous,
methanol), dipolar (
acetone) and non polar (
chloroform)
solvents, yielded more phyto compounds in case of root followed by
stem and leaf. The extracts were assessed for their antibacterial activity against both gram positive and
gram negative bacteria viz.,
Bacillus cerus,
Bacillus subtilis,
Staphylococcus aureus,
Staphylococcus epidermidis,
Escherichia coli,
Proteus vulgaris,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Klebsiella pneumoneae. The
gram positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive than
gram negative bacteria. The inhibition of both gram positive and
gram negative bacteria by the extracts indicate the presence of broad spectrum
antibiotic potential. The root extract of the
plant was found to be more effective in inhibiting the
bacterial growth as compared to
stem and leaf. The
methanol root extract of the
plant showed maximum inhibition against all gram positive and one gram negative
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria followed by
acetone and
chloroform. The highest activity index was recorded in
methanol extract of root in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results were promising and supported the use of
plants root by traditional healers in curing several ailments.