Abstract

Dr. Dhanapal Venkatachalam*

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate in-vitro efficacy of antibacterial activity of crude methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of Acacia modestaagainstsome human pathogenic bacterial strains.Acacia modesta, commonly known as Phulai, is a member of the family Leguminosae) and sub-family Mimosaceae. It is a deciduous, slow-growing small tree with thorny young shoots and dark brown and black wood. The plant is also popular in herbal medicines, including those for the treatment of muscular conditions, back pain, and stomach problems. Methodology: Crude methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of Acacia modestawere used for antibacterial screening. Antibacterial activity was tested against pathogenic bacterial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus Pumilus, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Enterobacteraerogenesand Streptococcus pneumonia.Antibacterial activity of Acacia modesta extract was carried out by using disc diffusion method. Results: The crude methanolic extract showed moderate activity against E. coli (40.74%), P. aeruginosa (40.74%) and B. pumalis (40%), low against S. epidermidis (34.61%), S. typhi (22.22%), S. pneumoniae(27.58%) and E. aerogens (31.03%) and no activity against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. The n-hexane fraction was significantly active against K. pneumoniae (66.66%) and moderately active against E. coli (48.14%), S. typhi (51.85%), P. aeruginosa (51.85%) and B. pumalis (40%). It showed low activity against S. epidermidis (34.61%), S. pneumoniae (20.68%), S. aureus (38.46%) and E. aerogens (34.48%). Chloroform fraction was moderately active against K. pneumoniae (57.14%), S. typhi (48.14%), E .aerogens (41.37%) and B. pumalis (40%) and low active against S. aureus (38.46%), P. aerugenosa (37.03%), S. epidermidis (34.61%), E. coli (33.33%) and S. pneumoniae (24.13%). Significant activity was shown by theEtOAcfraction against K. pneumoniae (61.90%), moderate against S. typhi (48.14%), E. coli (44.44%), P. aeruginosa (44.44%) and B. pumalis (40%) while low activity against E. aerogens (37.93%), S. aureus (34.61%), S. epidermidis (34.61%) and S. pneumoniae (24.13%). The aqueous fraction showed moderate activity against S. epidermidis (53.84%), B. pumalis (44%), E. coli (48.14%) and S. typhi (40.74%), low activity against K. pneumoniae (38.09%), P. aeruginosa (37.03%), E. aerogens (37.93%), S. aureus (34.61%) and no activity against S. pneumoniae.The n-hexane and EtOAc fractions exhibited significant while CHCl3fraction showed moderate activity against K. pneumoniae. The aqueous fraction showed low activity against the majority of test pathogens.The crude methanolic extract have low activity against most of the test pathogens. Conclusions: The results concludes that n-hexane, ethyl acetate extracts of Acacia modesta possess antibacterial activity.