Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Murraya koenigii Linn. Roots

 

Mohini Upadhye*, Sneha Barve, Swapnali Holkar and    Uttara Joshi

 

Department of Pharmacognosy, Modern College of Pharmacy (For Ladies), Pune, India

 

ABSTRACT:

The present study was designed to screen the antimicrobial activity of Murraya koenigii Linn. The coarse material of Murraya koenigii was extracted with alcohol, benzene, acetone, chloroform using Soxhlet and macerated to form water extract. All the extracts were screened for its antibacterial activity using agar well diffusion method. The microoraganisms used for antibacterial activity were E. coli, S. abony, P. aeruginosa.The results revealed that the extracts of Murraya koenigii roots are effective against E. coli, S. abony, P. aeruginosa.

 

KEYWORDS: Murraya koenigii L., antimicrobial activity

 

INTRODUCTION:

All parts Murraya koenigii belonging to family Rutaceae are useful in various diseases and disorders like diabetes, eruption, while roots are used as stimulant, stomachic, diarrhea, curing of dysentery and insect bites1. Oil obtained from this plant exhibited a strong antibacterial and antifungal activity. Phytochemical screening of the plant has shown the presence of fatty acids, flavonoids and alkaloids. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous, alcoholic, acetone, benzene, chloroform extracts of the roots of Murraya koenigii2, 3.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection:

The roots of the plant Murraya koenigii were collected from Moshi, Pune during the month of September 2008.

 

Identification:

Its botanical identity was confirmed by botanist Dr. P. G. Diwakar, Botanical Survey, Pune, India.

 

Methods:

Preparation of Extracts:

The roots were collected, cleaned and shade- dried. The dried roots were then pulvarised by a mechanical grinder and passed through a 20 mesh sieve. The powdered roots were then extracted with ethanol, acetone, benzene and chloroform by using Soxhlet assembly. Aqueous extract was prepared by cold maceration. The extraction was carried out for 24 hrs at room temperature with mild shaking. The extracts were filtered and concentrated at 45oC, and the weight of each residue was recorded and percent yield was calculated. These extracts were used for analyzing the antimicrobial activity against the reference strains.

 

 


Table 1: Phytochemical Analysis of Murraya koenigii roots

Sr. No.

Test

Aqueous extract

Ethanol Extract

Acetone Extract

Benzene Extract

Cloroform Extract

1

% yield

21.2%

2.8%

2.8%

2.0%

2.6%

2

Carbohydrates

+

+

+

+

+

3

Amino acids

-

-

-

-

-

4

Flavonoids

+

+

+

+

+

5

Volatile oil

+

+

+

+

+

6

Tannins

+

+

+

+

+

7

Glycosides

-

-

-

-

-

+ indicates presence, -indicates absence

 

Table 2: Analysis of Antibacterial Activity of Murraya koenigii Roots by Agar Well Diffusion Method

Microorganisms

Diameter of zone inhibition in mm

Aqueous 30  %

Ethanol 30  %

Acetone 30  %

Benzene 30  %

Chloroform 30  %

Control

E. coli

23

23

13

13

19

22

S. abony

20

19

11

11

11

26

P. aeruginosa

22

15

17

14

13

28

 

 


Screening for Phytochemical Constituents:

Aqueous, acetone, ethanol, benzene, chloroform extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical investigation for the presence of secondary metabolites such as carbohydrates, flavonoids, volatile oils, phenolic compounds, tannins etc.

 

Screening for Antimicrobial Activity:

The bacterial strains like E. coli, S. abony, P. aeruginosa were used for testing the antibacterial activity of alcohol, acetone, benzene, chloroform and aqueous extracts of the roots of Murraya koenigii L The agar -well diffusion assay was adopted.

 

The medium was sterilized by autoclaving at 120 C. (15 lb/in2). About 30 ml of nutrient agar medium inoculated with the respective strains of bacteria was transferred aseptically into each sterilized Petri plate. The plates were left at room temperature to allow solidification. In each plate, a single well of 6- mm was made using a sterile borer. The extracts were freshly reconstituted with suitable solvent (dimethyl sulphoxide) and tested at various concentrations. The test sample and the control (0.2 ml) were placed in 6- mm well. Antibacterial assay plates were incubated at 37+1 C for 24 hrs. Streptomycin (25 mg/ well) was used as positive control.

 

Varying degree of inhibition was observed 30 percent concentration of ethanol, acetone, benzene, chloroform and aqueous extracts in bacterial culture media as shown in table 2.

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The ethanol, acetone, benzene, chloroform and aqueous extracts of Murraya koenigii roots were tested for antimicrobial activities against E. coli, S. abony, P. aeruginosa. E. coli showed maximum sensitivity for Aqueous, alcoholic and chloroform extract as compared to acetone and benzene extract. S. abony showed maximum sensitivity to aqueous and alcoholic and minimum sensitivity was observed for acetone, benzene and chloroform extract.

Maximum sensitivity to aqueous extract and acetone extract and minimum for alcoholic, benzene and chloroform extract was obtained for P. aeruginosa (Table 2). The results revealed that the extracts of Murraya koenigii roots are effective against E. coli, S. abony, P. aeruginosa. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, volatile oil, phenolic compounds, tannins. Further work on the profile and nature of chemical constituents of Murraya koenigii roots will provide more information on the bioactive principles responsible for their pharmacological properties.

 

REFERENCES:

1.        Parmar C. and M. K. Kaushal 1982, Murraya koenigii, New Delhi, India : 45- 48.

2.        Sabhi M., Ramezanian M., Jaffari G., Horavi G., Bahaedini F., Aynehi Y., Survey of Indian Plants for Saponins, Alkaloids, Flavonoids and Tannins, the plants of Capparidaceae, International Journal of Crude Drug Research 23 (4), 1985, 165-177.

3.        Rangari V. D., Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Carreer Publication, First Edition, : 84,85

4.        Chopra R. N., Nayar S. L., and Chopra I. C., Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, CSIR Publications, New Delhi, 1952, :50

5.        Mohantal TK, Patral JK, Rath SK, Pal DK and Thatoi HN, Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of oils and nuts of Semicarpus anacardium L. f. Scientific Research and Essay, 2007; 2 :486-490

6.        Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV, Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts. J. Appl. Microbiol. 1999, 86; 985-990

7.        Bauer AW, Sherris TM, Kirby, WHM, Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disc method. Ad. J. Clin. Pathol, 1966, 45:493-496

8.        Kudi AC, Umoh JU, Gefu J., Screening of some Nigerian medicinal plants for antimicrobial activity. J. Ethnopharmacol. 1966, 67:225-228

 

 

Received on 07.03.2010

Accepted on 17.02.2010        

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy  and Phytochemistry. 2(6): Nov. - Dec. 2010, 476-477