The present study shows the in vitro antimicrobial activity of leaves of Enicostemma axillare (Lam.) Raynal, which was collected from Southern Aravalli hills of Rajasthan. Extraction was done successively in four different solvents i.e. petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extract was also prepared separately. The antibacterial and antifungal activity was tested by agar-well diffusion assay. All extracts displayed varied level of antimicrobial activity. The methanolic extract of E. axillare leaves exhibited antibacterial effect against all of the bacteria tested and the zone of inhibition varied between 16.66 to 10 mm. The methanolic extract also shows good antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The results obtained in this study confirm the antimicrobial potential of E. axillare leaves, and its usefulness in the treatment of diseases that may be caused as a result of infection.
Antimicrobial activity, Enicostemma axillare, Aravallis, Rajasthan
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