ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF MIXTURE OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICA LINN.) AND TANTANI (LANTANA CAMARA)

Screening of medicinal plants for their antimicrobial activity leads to development of less expensive formulations with better safety and efficacy. A. indica and L. camara shows antibacterial activity. A. indica is multipurpose tree with wide range of uses. Also the L. camara has steroidal content showing cardiotonic, antispasmodic activity along with antibacterial activity. In the present study we have compared the individual alcoholic leaf extracts of both plants with their combination. Antibacterial activity in mixture of leaf extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and tantani (Lantana camara) was tested against human pathogenic bacteria E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, P. aureginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Ethanolic extracts of Neem and Tantani leaves were used. Varying concentrations of individual extracts and their combination of 10 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 100 mg/ml were prepared. Antimicrobial assay using cup plate method was used. When compared with individual leaf extract of Neem and tantani, combination shows maximum inhibition on E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Bacillus subtilis. These good experimental results can further be explored. The mixture of these plant extracts as bactericidal can be used in formulation development in natural products.