ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ALKALOIDS OF TRIDAX PROCUMBENS L. AGAINST HUMAN PATHOGENS

Tridax procumbens L. is a well known medicinal plant. In the present study alkaloids from pedicle and buds of the plant were extracted and evaluated for antimicrobial activity by ‘Disc Diffusion Assay’ against selected bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis) and fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes). Minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration and total activity of each active extract were also evaluated. Significant antibacterial activity was recorded by alkaloids of pedicle against P. mirabilis (IZ 20mm, AI 0.83 and same MIC, MBC 0.039 mg/ml) and antifungal activity was recorded by buds against C. albicans (IZ 9.2mm, AI 0.92, MIC 0.625 mg/ml and MFC 1.25 mg/ml). MIC ranged from 0.039 mg/ml-0.625 mg/ml and MBC/MFC ranged from 0.039 mg/ml-1.25 mg/ml against susceptible pathogens. It is noteworthy that MIC values of active extracts was found very low (0.039 mg/ml-0.625 mg/ml) and was recorded below 1 mg/ml against inhibited pathogens, thus ascertain their strong antimicrobial potential against selected microbes. Thus, the result of the present study advocates the exploitation of alkaloid extracts of T. procumbens for future antimicrobial drugs.