Antimicrobial Activity of Marsilea quadrifolia (L.) Against Some Selected Pathogenic Microorganisms

Objective: To investigate the antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of leaf and stem of M. quadrifolia (L.) against selected human pathogenic microorganisms.

Methods: The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by well diffusion method. The antibacterial and antifungal studies were carried out at the Department Laboratory, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Kumbakonam – 612 001, Tamilnadu, India during the months of July to December 2013. Wells of 6 mm diameter were punched in the agar medium and filled with different volumes of extracts (50mg/ml) contains 2.5, 3.75 and 5mg concentrations.

Results: The antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of leaf and stem of M. quadrifolia at different concentrations was analyzed. Among the concentrations, 5mg of both leaf and stem extracts showed best antimicrobial activity than other concentrations 2.5 and 3.75mg. The leaf and stem extracts showed antimicrobial activity and produced the zone of inhibition ranges from 8 to 23mm. The aqueous leaf extract showed maximum zone of inhibition 23mm against Streptococcus pyogenes followed by ethanolic stem extract showed 21mm against Bacillus subtilis. The minimum antibacterial activity 8mm was observed by diethyl ether stem extract against Klebsiella pneumonia. The antifungal activity of diethyl ether leaf extract showed positive results in all tested fungal strains when compared to other solvent extracts. The maximum zone of inhibition 13mm was observed against Aspergillus terreus at 5mg of diethyl ether leaf extract. Aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts had no antifungal activity in all tested fungal strains except 5mg of methanolic leaf extract. The aqueous and diethyl ether stem extracts showed potent antifungal activity and the maximum zone of inhibition 15mm was observed against Aspergillus niger. Diethyl ether stem extract also showed maximum zone of inhibition 15mm against Trichoderma viride.

Conclusion: From this study, we concluded that it may be a new source for the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds from M. quadrifolia.