Antimicrobial Activity of Basella Rubra Leaves

The antimicrobial activities of aqueous, ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of the leaves of Basella rubra were evaluated in the present study by measuring the inhibition zones using Cup Plate Diffusion method. The inhibition zones were significantly different (P<0.001) in each plant extract. The ethanolic extract showed maximum activity with zone of inhibition (14.3±1.82 mm) against E.coli, followed by aqueous extract (13.4±1.2 mm) and petroleum ether (5.6±0.62 mm) at a concentration of 50g/ml. Ciprofloxacin was used as the standard drug having zones of inhibition(17±0.34 mm) against E.coli and 19±0.18 mm against A. niger. Microbial inhibition was in the order E.coli (12.57±0.99), A. niger (11.68±0.71), V. cholera (11.42±0.60), S. aureus (10.71±0.46), S. typhi (9.80±0.90) , respectively with all the extracts. The extracts were not able to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa.