Abrus Precatorius L. Seed Extracts Antimicrobial Properties against Clinically Important Bacteria

In vitro antibacterial activities of hexane, chloroform and methanolic crude extracts of Abrus precatorius seeds were tested against ten clinical isolates using the agar well diffusion technique. Hexane, chloroform and methanolic extracts were obtained using the soxhlet extractor on A. precatorius seeds. To measure the MIC values, various concentrations of the stock, 500, 250, 100, 75, 50, 35, 25 and 12microg/ml were assayed against the test bacteria. At the different concentrations of the extracts used (500microg/ml-4microg/ml), Enterococcus faecalis was the most resistant organism. Methanolic seed extracts were potent when compared with hexane and chloroform extracts. This study demonstrates that A. precatorius particularly the seed methanolic extracts has a potent antimicrobial activity. The results supported the ethno botanical use of seed parts of A. precatorius for the treatment of various bacteria-related diseases.