SCREENING OF 34 INDIAN MEDICINAL-PLANTS FOR ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

A total of 34 plant species belonging to 18 different families, select ed on the basis of folklore medicinal reports practised by the tribal people of Western Ghats, India, were assayed for antibacterial activit y against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, an d Pseudomonas aerogenes (Gram-negative bacteria) at 1000-5000 ppm usin g the disc diffusion method. Of these 16 plants showed activity; among them Cassia fistula, Terminalia arjuna and Vitex negundo showed signi ficant antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria. Our finding s confirm the traditional therapeutic claims for these herbs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.