In vitro Screening of Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Marsilea quadrifolia (Marsileaceae) Linn. Extract

Objectives: The purpose of the present research was to explore the antibacterial and antifungal activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol extracts of Marsilea quadrifolia against 31 species of bacteria and 7 species of fungi.
Methods: Antibacterial activity was assessed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The concentrations of plant extracts were 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/disc. Streptomycin (10μg/disc) was used as standard antibiotic. The antifungal activity was assayed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by broth micro dilution method. The extracts were made in the concentration range of 0.010 to 0.0001 g/ml. Fluconazole was used as standard reference.
Results: Antibacterial assay revealed that the ethyl acetate extract (5 mg/disc) was effective against most of the bacterial strains, while the hexane, ethanol and methanol extracts were weakly effective. The diameter of inhibition zones was found to be ranged between 6-13 mm. Antifungal activity test showed that hexane extract (0.002 g/ml) was effective against Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans. Ethyl acetate extract (0.002 g/ml) was effective against Aspergillus flavus and Trichophyton rubrum. Ethanol extract (0.005 g/ml and 0.002 g/ml) was effective against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Aspergillus flavus respectively. Methanol extract was not effective against any of the fungal strains. The MIC ranged between 0.002- 0.005 g/ml.
Conclusions: The results indicated that Marsilea quadrifolia extracts has antimicrobial activity and could be source of alternative antimicrobial drugs for treatment of diseases caused by the pathogens tested in this study.

Author(s): T.G. Gini and G. Jeya Jothi

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