Antimicrobial Activity of Alternanthera Sessilis (L) R. BR. Ex. DC and Alternanthera Philoxeroides (Mart). Griseb

Mrs. E. Vimala Nalina Kumari, Dr.V. Krishnan

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts Alternanthera sessilis and Alternanthera philoxeroides. Method: Aqueous extracts and extracts from solvents (ethanol, methanol, acetone, etc) of both the plants were evaluated against bacterial strains such as Bacillus pumillus, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aureginosa and fungi like Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans using well diffusion method. Result: The result of the study revealed that some of the bacterial strains were more sensitive to Alternanthera sessilis and showed remarkable zone of inhibition than Alternanthera philoxeroides and few bacterial strains and fungi have no activity. Conclusion: The plant extracts of Alternanthera sessilis and Alternanthera philoxeroides showed significant antimicrobial activity due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals present in them.