IN-VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CRUDE EXTRACT OF FICUS ARNOTTIANA MIQ. LEAVES (MORACEACE): AN ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT

This study was carried out with an objective to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal potentials of leaves of Ficus arnottiana Miq. The aim of the study is to assess the antimicrobial activity and to determine the zone of inhibition of extracts on some bacterial and fungal strains. In the present study, the microbial activity of ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of leaves of Ficus arnottiana Miq. was evaluated for potential antimicrobial activity against medically important bacterial and fungal strains. The antimicrobial activity was determined in the extracts using agar cup method. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts (50, 100, 200 μl) of Ficus arnottiana were tested against two Gram-positive—Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis; two Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa human pathogenic bacteria; and two fungal strains Fusarium solanii, Candida albicans. Zone of inhibition of extracts were compared with that of different standards like Doxycycline for antibacterial activity and fluconazole for antifungal activity. The results showed that the remarkable inhibition of the bacterial growth was shown against the tested organisms. The phytochemical analysis of the plants was carried out. The microbial activity of the Ficus arnottiana was due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. Hence, these plants can be used to discover bioactive natural products that may serve as leads in the development of new pharmaceuticals research activities