Evaluation of the Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Activity of Callicarpa arborea Leaves

Callicarpa species Family: Verbenaceae has been a source of antimicrobials. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the hydro-alcoholic (70% alcohol in water) extract of its leaves. The zone of inhibition by cup plate method was determined at concentrations (100, 200, and 300 mg/ml) and compared to that of the standards-Amikacin (0.01mg/ml) for antibacterial and Fluconazole (0.01mg/ml) for antifungal. The test organisms used were Gram Positive bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Gram Negative bacteria-Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fungal strains: Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium chrysogenum. Fluconazole exhibited a zone of inhibition of 51-52 mm and the extracts: 29-34 mm against fungal strains. Amikacin exhibited a zone of inhibition of 42 mm in gram negative organisms and 45 mm in gram positive organisms, whereas the extracts exhibited a zone of inhibition of 24-28 mm. From the above results, it can be concluded that the hydro alcoholic extract of the leaves of Callicarpa arborea exhibited significant antifungal activity and, antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, in a dose dependant manner as compared to that of the standard.