Screening of the Antibacterial Activity of Amorphophallus Campanulatus from Bastar Region of Chhattisgarh, India

The present study was aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Amorphophallus campanulatus (family: Araceae) commonly known as jangli suran. The root, stem and leaf of A. campanulatus, extracted successively with polar (aqueous, methanol), dipolar (acetone) and non polar (chloroform) solvents, yielded more phyto compounds in case of root followed by stem and leaf. The extracts were assessed for their antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria viz., Bacillus cerus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoneae. The gram positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive than gram negative bacteria. The inhibition of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria by the extracts indicate the presence of broad spectrum antibiotic potential. The root extract of the plant was found to be more effective in inhibiting the bacterial growth as compared to stem and leaf. The methanol root extract of the plant showed maximum inhibition against all gram positive and one gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria followed by acetone and chloroform. The highest activity index was recorded in methanol extract of root in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results were promising and supported the use of plants root by traditional healers in curing several ailments.