Effect of Extracts from Asparagus Racemosus Willd Root against Pathogenic Bacteria

Bactericidal activity of crude extracts from Asparagus racemosus were screened against eight pathogenic strains which belongs to Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherischia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella dysenteriae , Shigella flexneri and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The chloroform and ethanolic extract exhibited predominant antibacterial activity against all the bacteria tested. The chloroform extract showed higher zone of inhibition than ethanolic extract. In case of both extract Gram positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive than those of Gram negative bacteria. The inhibition of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria by the solvent extracts indicated the presence of broad spectrum antibacterial substances in the plant root. The result was promising and supported the traditional use of Asparagus racemosus in several ailments.