Abstract
Antimicrobial activity of 105 Indian plant species was tested. Among them, 30 showed antibacterial activity; 20 of these exhibited antifungal action as well. Seeds ofCarum copticum, stem ofPinus longifolia, roots ofPlumbago zeylanica andSaussurea lappa, and rhizome ofAlpinia officinarum have considerable antifungal activity, especially against pathogenic fungi. Antibiotic activity against a wide variety of microorganisms—pathogenic and nonpathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and fungi—was also noted with leaves ofLawsonia inermis, roots ofPlumbago zeylanica, and fruits ofTamarindus indica,Terminalia belerica, andEmblica officinalis.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Bhakuni, D. S., Dhar, M. L., Dhar, M. M., Dhawan, B. N., and Mehrotra, B. N. 1969. Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: Part II. Indian J. Exptl. Biol.,7: 250–262.
Bhakuni, D. S., Dhar, M. L., Dhar, M. M., Dhawan, B. N., Gupta, B., and Srimal, R. C. 1971. Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: Part III. Indian J. Exptl. Biol., 9: 91–102.
Dhar, M. L., Dhar, M. M., Dhawan, B. N., Mehrotra, M. N., and Roy, C. 1968. Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: Part I. Indian J. Exptl. Biol,6: 232–247.
Farnsworth, N. R. 1966. Biological and phytochemical screening of plants. J. Pharm. Sci.,55: 225–276.
Grove, D. C. and Randall, W. A. 1955. Assay methods of antibiotics. Medical Encyclopedia, Inc. New York.
Gupta, S. K. and Banerjee, A. B. 1972. Screening of selected West Bengal plants for antifungal activity. Econ. Bot.,26: 255–259.
Jain, S. R. and Jain, M. R. 1972. Antifungal studies of some indigenous volatile oils and their combination. Planta Med., 22: 136–139.
Kavanagh, F. 1963. Analytical microbiology. Academic Press.
Mackie, T. J. and McCartney, J. E. 1959. Handbook of practical bacteriology. E. and S. Livingstone.
Narasimharao, B. G. V. and Subharao, P. 1972. Efficacy of some essential oils on pathogenic fungi: II. Flavour Ind.,3: 368–370.
Nickell, L. G. 1959. Antimicrobial activity of vascular plants. Econ. Bot.,13: 281–318.
Osborn, E. M. 1943. On the occurrence of antibacterial substances in green plants. Brit. J. Exptl. Pathol.,24: 227–231.
Sehgal, J. M. 1961. Antimicrobial substances from flowering plants. 1. Antifungal substances. Hindustan Antibiot. Bull.,4: 3–29.
Stoessl, A. 1970. Antifungal compounds produced by higher plants. Recent Adv. Phytochem.,3: 143–180.
Vichkanova, S. A., Adgina, V. V., Goryunova, L. V., and Rubinchik, M. A. 1972. Chemotherapeutic properties of plumbagin. Fitontsidy, Mater. Soveshch., 6th 1969, 183–185. (Original not seen; abstract in Chem. Abstr.,78: 66906s. 1973.)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ray, P.G., Majumdar, S.K. Antimicrobial activity of some Indian plants. Econ Bot 30, 317–320 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904653
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904653