Studies on antimicrobial activity of root of Annona Squamosa L. And Withania Somnifera L.

The Indian folk medicine practice is based on the use of plant extracts. Many phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, phenolics, terpenoids and saponins are isolated from plant roots. The plant and plant products are known for their therapeutic uses from thousands of years. In folk medicine it has been used as diuretic, Antipyretic, antidiabetic and analgesic agent. The Annona squamosa L. and Withania somnifera L. of the family Annonaceae and Solanaceae respectively were studied for antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria. During the present study Aqueous and Methanolic extract of roots of Annona squamosa L. and Withania somnifera L. were used. Root extracts were evaluated for their antibacterial activity. The antibacterial study was carried out by disc diffusion method against the pathogens Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus auerus, Salmonella typhi, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The maximum zone of inhibition was observed in methanol extract as compared to aqueous extract for each bacterium. The methanolic extract of roots of the test medicinal plants showed the zone of inhibition against the test bacteria S.typhi (12 mm), K. pneumoniae (15 mm), Proteus vulgaris (22 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18 mm), Staphylococcus aureus(14 mm) and Escherichia coli (12 mm).The present study demonstrates that the selected medicinal plants have antibacterial potential.