Biological Activities of Some Nepalese Medicinal Plants Used in Treating Bacterial Infections in Human Beings

Abstract

In continuation of Nepalese medicinal plant screening research, we have examined the antibacterial property of 40 methanol crude extracts in vitro using disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Overall, 95 % of the extracts showed antibacterial activity against at least one Gram-negative bacteria and 90 % of the extracts against at least one Gram-positive bacteria examined. Twenty-one extracts including Artemisia caruifolia, Dicranostigma lactucoides, Rauvolfia serpentina, and other plants showed antibacterial activity with all the tested bacterial species. The laboratory results are promising because several plants showed broad-spectrum antibacterial property. It is hoped that this scientific research will aware the related partners in Nepal to search for safe, efficacious, cheap alternative antibacterials of plant origin and may create an opportunity for biological conservation of the medicinal plants and cultural diversity conservation.

Key words: Antibacterial activity; In vitro; Ethnomedicinal plants

DOI: 10.3126/njst.v10i0.2830

Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Volume 10, 2009 December Page: 83-90