ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVTY OF SARCOSTEMMA ACIDUM VOIGT. (APOCYNACEAE) STEM
Antimicrobial activity of 70% methanol and aqueous extracts of Sarcostemma acidum Voigt. (Apocynaceae) stem was investigated against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococci aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi and Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity was performed by agar cup-plate method against two gram positive (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus) and two gram negative (Salmonella paratyphi and Klebsiella pneumoniae) are compared with standard drug Ciprofloxacin. The 70% methanolic extract (zone of inhibition 13 - 22mm) was found to be more effective than the aqueous extract (zone of inhibition 11 – 17mm) against all the organisms. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was also determined using exhibited by micro titter method and tube dilution method; and observed the values was exhibited by Staphylococci aureus and Escherichia coli strains by each corresponding to 500µgm. This study concluded that Sarcostemma acidum Voigt. used as a traditional medicinal plant has antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms.