In vitro antibacterial activity of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk

The antibacterial activity of Eclipta alba against three gram positive and five gram negative bacterial strains was investigated. The fresh whole plants were collected from Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts at different concentrations (1, 2, 5, 10 mg/ml) were used to investigate the antibacterial activity. NCCL standards were strictly followed to perform antibacterial disc susceptibility test using disc diffusion method. The extracts showed varying degree of inhibitory potential against all the tested bacteria. Methanol extract of the plant had higher inhibitory action against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas fluroescens.