Studies on the effect of temperature treatment and storage of crude plant extracts on antibacterial activity

ABSTRACT

Present paper deals with the effect of temperature treatment and storage of 15 days at 4°C of plant extracts on antibacterial activity. Crude extracts of Ficus religiosa, Adhatoda vasica and Ephedra foliata were evaluated in above mentioned conditions against certain bacterial text organisms i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium [Gram positive] and Escherichia coll, Salmonella typhi, Proteus vulgaris, Shigella dysenterieae, Shigella flexneri [Gram negative]. During this investigation any variant behaviour of temperature treated extract has been recorded. In general, a declined [reduced] trend of antibacterial activity was recorded and complete loss of drug efficacy was also noted against S. typhi in treated extract of F religiosa. Antibacterial activity remained as such against certain bacterial text organisms indicate the thermostable nature of specific components of the treated extract activity against specific bacterial species. 15 days storage of bark extract of F. religiosa at 4°C has yielded enhanced activity in aqueous extract of F. religiosa against B. megaterium, Shigella dysenterieae and in alcoholic extract against B. megaterium. Similarly storage extract of E. foliata also showed enhanced antibacterial activity against B. megaterium