Antibacterial Activity of Different Leaves and Bark Extracts of Ficus Benghalensis
Author(s): K Mahammad Areef* and Mohammed Mazher Ahmed
Abstract
Ficus benghalensis is one of the important medicinal plants belonging to the family moraceae. It is a tree indigenous to India. Ayurveda and Unani medicinal systems use it for the treatment of several ailments. Ficus benghalensis has Anti pyretic, Anti helminthic, Anti-microbial, Hepato protective and Anti-cancer activities. As per World Health Organization many people are suffering from microbial infections. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-microbial activity of Ficus benghalensis. The preliminary phytochemical studies determine the various secondary metabolites like Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Saponins, and Alkaloids are present. This aqueous extract was screened for their antimicrobial activity against 2 pathogen bacteria by agar cup-plate method. These methanol extract shows significant activity against E. coli & K. pneumonia 100, 200 and 300µgm/ml. The Activity Index of leaf extract and bark extract is 1.2, 1.23, 1.26 and 1.33, 1.14, 1.18 (E. coli) and 1.8, 1.42, 1.23 and 1.63, 1.53, 1.31(K. pneumonia) respectively and compared with a standard drug Amoxicillin. This study gives the way for further studies to elucidate the exact mechanism of action.