ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA L. AGAINST PATHOGENS CAUSING URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN HUMANS

The present study evaluates the antibiotic activity of Argemone mexicana L. against bacteria causing urinary tract infection in humans. Flavonoids which were reported to possess many pharmacological activities, antimicrobial, antioxidant, chemoprevention, strong antiproliferative effects related to cell cycle progression inhibition and induction of apoptosis. Terpenoids and alkaloids which possess anti pathogenic activity which is the major cause of various diseases. The preliminary phytochemical study showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, C-glycosides, phenolics, saponons and tannins in the methanol crude extract (MCE) of Argemone mexicana L. leaves. The extract showed the potent antimicrobial activity against both Gram +ve bacteria Staphyllococcus aureus and Staphyllococcus chonii and Gram–ve bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extract showed highest zone of inhibition 12.41±0.01mm at concentration of 100mg/ml against E. coli. The extract also showed antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, S.chonii, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus with zone of inhibition 8.69±0.03, 11.59±0.01, 10.75±0.001mm at 500mg/ml and 9.96±0.02mm at 100mg/ml concentration respectively. All the six selected strains of bacteria are inhibited by starting concentration of 50mg/ml i.e. 1mg/disc of crude extract.