A Comparative Study of Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Tecoma stans and Abutilon indicum Leaves: An In vitro Study

Abstract

Tecoma stans is a flowering plant belonging to the family Bignoniaceae. It is the floral emblem of the Bahamas. Abutilon indicum belongs to the family Malvaceae. It is also called Indian Mallow. Tecoma stans and Abutilon indicumhave antimicrobial activity and can be used in producing antibiotics. There is an urgent need to produce new antibiotics as there is an increase in the development of pathogen resistant drugs. The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Tecoma stansand Abutilonindicum leaves. E.faecalis bacteria were maintained in nutrient agar slopes. The powder of the two herbs, were subjected to extraction by Soxhlet extractor and was concentrated to dry residue by Agar well diffusion method. The nutrient broth was inoculated with bacterial strains. The culture was adjusted to 0.5McFarland turbidity standard. Lawn culture was done in Muller-Hinton agar plate and then the plates were dried. A 6 mm diameter well is bored for different concentrations. The extracts were introduced into the well and allowed to stand for 24 hrs. The antibacterial activity was determined by measuring the zone of inhibition. The present finding on the antimicrobial potential of Abutilon indicum and Tecoma stands showed that the two plants have growth inhibitory activity against oral pathogen E. faecalis. Abutilon indicum has a zone of inhibition greater than Tecoma stans. Abutilon indicum exhibited better activity compared to Tecoma stans.