Efficacy of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Rheum Spiciformis against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. - GreenMedInfo Summary

INTRODUCTION: is a newly identified edible medicinal plant of genus. The plant is used to treat various diseases on traditional levels in Kashmir Valley, India.

AIM: To evaluate the phytochemical screening, antibacterial and antifungal potential of aqueous and methanolic extracts of, a traditionally used edible medicinal plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanolic and aqueous extracts ofwere tested for their antimicrobial activities against six bacterial strains namely,,,,andand four fungal strains,,andThe susceptibility of microbial strains to the two extracts was determined using agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical screening was carried out by using various standard procedures.

RESULTS: Methanolic extract showed potent antimicrobial activity as compared to aqueous extract at the concentrations of 10, 30, 50, 80 and 100mg/ml. The most susceptible bacterial strains werewith zone of inhibition (25±0.10mm),(23±0.25mm),(22±0.10mm) at the concentration of 100mg/ml. Aqueous extracts at the higher concentration were found effective againstandwith zone of inhibition (17±0.24mm) and (17±0.10mm), respectively. Among fungal strains the most susceptible were(21±0.10mm),(20±0.20mm) and(17±0.15mm) at the concentration of 100mg/ml methanol extract. The zone of inhibition for aqueous extract against fungal strains ranged between 14±0.13mm to 16±0.19mm at the highest concentration of plant extract. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites like flavonoids, saponins, volatile oils, phenols, steroids, terpenoids and alkaloids.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that this plant has enough potential to serve as an excellent candidate for obtaining antimicrobial compounds to combat bacterial and fungal infections.