Antibacterial and Antifungal Studies of Mirabilus jalap Leaf Extracts

ISSN:0975-1459 Five different crude e xtracts: petroleum ether, c hloroform, et hyl et her, e thanol a nd aqueous extract of Mirabilus jalap have be en st udied for bot h in vitro an tibacterial and an tifungal activ ites. Th e d ifferent ex tracts sh owed remarkable inhibitory action against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria and two fungal species. The methanolic extract of the leaves of Mirabilus jalap was screened for its antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was detected by observing the growth response of different organisms to the methanolic ex tract. It was generally based on the inhibition of growth of microorganisms which were measured with a desired concentration of the plant extract of Mirabilus jalap to b e examined with the standard con centarion preparation. Positive an tifungal activ ity was observed with the methanolic extract against fungal organism Candida albicans.