In Vitro Assay of Herbaceous Extracts of Salvadora persica L. Against Some Pathogenic Microbes

The knowledge of plants as therapeutic agents goes back to the beginning of time. Ancient texts provide valuable clues of plants being used as potentially antiparasitic, antimalarial, anti -tumorous and antibacterial compounds. The plant was selected due to its application as traditional medicinal plant. The potent antimicrobial activities of alcoholic extracts of Salvadora persica L. (fresh and dry plant) were screened for in vitro activity against B. subtilis, E. coli, Lactobacillus brevis, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus au reus, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger using standard Agar Disc-Diffusion assay. Chloramphenicol and Miconazole were used as reference standards. The antimicrobial activity of alcoholic extracts of herbaceous parts of S. persica L. revealed a higher inhibition zone to P roteus vulgaris followed by other test organisms which exhibited less zone of inhibition such as B. subtilis, Lactoba cillus brevis, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. This confirms that S. persica L. contains substances with antimicrobial properties. The phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed that the herba ceous parts of Salvadora persica L. contained carbohydrates, glycosides, sterols, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids but, are deprived of saponins, coumarins a nd anthraquinones. The spectra of activities displayed by the extracts can be attributed to the presence of these phyto chemicals which signifies the potential of Salvadora persica L. plant as a source of therapeutic agents and may provide leads in the ongoing search for commercial extraction of essential components employed for varied purposes.