In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Methanolic Extract of Sphaeranthus Amaranthoides Burm

This study was performed to evaluate the In vitro antimicrobial activity of entire parts of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Sphaeranthus amaranthoides Burm. The antimicrobial activities of medicinal plant extracts used for the treatment of parasitic diseases were examined with four bacteria – two from Gram positive group (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and rest two from Gram-negative group (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi) following disc diffusion method. The methanolic extract revealed antibacterial activity more than the aqueous extract. Both the extracts showed less activity against Bacillus subtilis and where as Salmonella typhi no inhibition (NI). It showed more activity on Escherichia coli compared to standard. Both the extracts showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25mg/ml on Bacillus subtilis and 12.5mg/ml on Staphylococcus aureus. Totally the methanolic and aqueous extracts of Sphaeranthus amaranthoids showed good anti bacterial activity. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, alkaloids, sugars, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and amino acids with mottled degree