ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF SELECTED INDIAN FOLK MEDICINAL PLANTS: MYRISTICA FATUA, ALSTONIA BOONEI, HELICTERES ISORA, VITEX ALTISSIMA AND ATALANTIA RACEMOSA

Objective : To determine antimicrobial activity of methanol, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts of Myristica fatua, Alstonia boonei, Helicteres isora, Vitex altissima and Atalantia racemosa  against different species of pathogens, Streptococcus feacalis, Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis , Staphyllococcus aureus, and Candida albicans . Methods: Antimicrobial activity of plant extracts was measured by agar well diffusion method. Results: Acetone extracts of Alstonia boonei showed the highest inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli (21.00 ± 1.00 mm) and Streptococcus faecalis (19.00 ± 1.00 mm). All the extracts of Heliteres isora leaves showed different zone of inhibition observed in all the tested pathogens ranges between (8.13 ± 1.53 – 15.25 ± 1.23 mm). Ethyl acetate extract of Vitex altissima showed highest activity against Bacillus sublilis (19.67 ± 1.53 mm). Methanol and acetone leaves extracts of Atalantia racemosa have good fungal activity against the Candida albicans (19.33 ± 1.26 mm - 16.00 ± 1.00 mm). Methanol extract of Myristica fatua showed high antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.10 ± 0.17 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (14.23 ± 0.21 mm). Conclusion: The results from the study suggest that the leaves Myristica fatua, Alstonia boonei, Helicteres isora, Vitex altissima and Atalantia racemosa showed good antimicrobial activity against the different pathogens. They are used as the alternative source for the control and treatment of microbial infections. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Leaves extracts,  Well diffusion method, Pathogenic strains.