EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF CUSCUTA REFLEXA ROXB

Deepti Gulati* and Abhinav Mishra

In the present study antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of stem of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. was evaluated against Gram positive bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative bacteria like Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extract was poured into the wells of sterile Mueller hinton agar plates and antibacterial activity was determined by agar diffusion assay. The plates were observed for the inhibition of bacterial growth that was indicated by a clear zone around the wells. The size of the zones of inhibition was measured and the antibacterial activity was expressed in terms of average diameter of the zone of inhibition in millimeters. The results showed remarkable inhibition of growth for the tested organisms. More activity was observed against Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) as compared to Gram positive bacteria.