Gampa Ramakrishnaiah et al.

IRJP 2012, 3 (9)

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF PHARMACY
www.irjponline.com ISSN 2230 – 8407
Research Article

IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF LEAVES AND BARK EXTRACTS OF FICUS RELIGIOSA (Linn.)
Gampa Ramakrishnaiah* and T. Hariprasad2
Dept. of Biotechnology, Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College, A.Rangampet, Tirupati-517102, Andhra Pradesh, India
Article Received on: 04/07/12 Revised on: 01/08/12 Approved for publication: 02/09/12

*Email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
In the present study we investigated antimicrobial activity of diethyl ether and methanol extractions of bark and leaves of Ficus religiosa plant against three
bacteria (E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus & Pseudomonas aurignosa) and one fungi (Aspergillus niger). The results showed that the methanol extracts of both
leaves and bark showed antimicrobial activity on three tested bacteria and no effect on A.niger. In methanol extracts S.aureus showed maximum sensitivity
(inhibition zone 28mm) followed by E.coli (inhibition zone 16mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (inhibition zone 12mm). Diethyl ether extracts of leaves
were also showed maximum inhibition on S.aureus followed by E.coli and P.aeruginosa. Both methanol and diethyl ether extracts of bark showed
antimicrobial activity on three types of tested bacteria and very less inhibition activity on A.niger. But comparatively bark extracts of both the solvents were
showed less antimicrobial activity than leaves extracts on the tested microbes.
KEY WORDS: antimicrobial activity, bacteria, Ficus religiosa

INTRODUCTION Methanol extraction of leaves and bark of Ficus religiosa:

Medicinal plants are naturally gifted with invaluable Both the dried leaves and bark were powdered (each 10g)
bioactive compounds which form the backbone of traditional and extracted separately with ethanol in a Soxhlet extractor.
medicines. The use of plants as medicines antedates history. The extracts obtained were stored in refrigerator at 4o C for
There has been an increasing interest worldwide on further use.
therapeutic values of natural products from plants due to Diethyl ether extraction of leaves and bark of Ficus
disenchantment with modern synthetic drugs. Approximately religiosa:
80% of the 4,000 inhabitants of the earth rely on herbal Both the dried leaves and bark were powdered (each 10g) and
medicines for their primary health1. Interest in medicinal extracted separately with diethyl ether in a Soxhlet
plants with antibacterial properties has revived due to several extractor. The extracts obtained were stored in refrigerator at
problems associated with the use of antibiotics2. Plants are 4o C for further use.
rich source of bioactive compounds and thus serve as Ampicillin (20 mg) was used as a positive control.
important raw materials for drug production3. Many works Microbes used:
have been done which aim at knowing the different Two Gram negative bacteria (E.coli and Pseudomonas
antimicrobial and phytochemical constituents of medicinal aeruginosa), one Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus
plants using them for the treatment of microbial infections as aureus) and one fungus (Aspergillus niger) were collected
possible alternative to chemically synthetic drugs to which from the Department of Microbiology, S.V.University,
many infectious microorganisms have become resistant. Tirupati, A.P. India and were used in the present study. All
Ficus religiosan is commonly known as people tree in the bacterial samples were maintained in nutrient agar slants.
English. In India it is known by several vernacular names, the The fungus sample was maintained in PDA medium plates.
most commonly used ones being Asvatthah (Sanskrit), sacred Screening of antibacterial and anti fungal activity:
fig In vitro antibacterial and antifungal studies were conducted
(Bengali), Peepal (Hindi), Arayal (Malayalam), Ravi (Telgu) against selected bacteria and fungus using disc diffusion
and Arasu (Tamil)4. It belongs to Moraceae family. Peepal method8. Two types of solvents (methanol & diethyl ether)
tree is one of the most familiar trees in India. It is one of the were used for bark and leaves extractions. The different
longest living trees of the world. Ficus religiosa is used in concentrations of methanol and diethyl ether extractions
traditional medicine for about 50 types of disorders including (100, 200, 300 & 400 mg/ml) of both bark and leaves of
asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, gastric problems, and people tree were prepared. The Whatman no: 1 filter paper
inflammatory disorders, infectious and sexual disorders5. The discs size of 30mm was used for disc diffusion method. Paper
barks of F. religiosa is an important discs were incubated in plant extracts for overnight at room
ingredient in many Ayurvedic formulations, such as temperature and air dried before used in the experiments.
Nalpamaradi tailam, Chandanasavam, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Nyagrodhadi churna and Saribadyasavam6&7. In this context The antimicrobial activity was measured as zone of inhibition
we selected historically important ancient plant of India i.e of two types of solvent extracts on three bacteria and one
Ficus religiosa to study its antimicrobial activity against fungus. Table 1 & 2 showed the antimicrobial activity of
some selected microbes. methanol and diethyl ether extracts of both leaves and bark of
MATERI1ALS AND METHODS: Ficus religiosa on selected microbes.
Collection of plant material: In table one the methanol extracts of leaves and bark were
Fresh leaves of Ficus religiosa were collected from the Sree showed antimicrobial activity against three bacteria. At
Vidyanikethan Engineering College campus, A.Rangampet, lower concentrations methanol extracts showed less
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. The leaves and bark were antimicrobial activity and showed higher activity at
washed under running tap water, air dried and then ground 400mg/ml concentration three tested bacteria. Both Bacillus
into powder by using electric grinder. subtilis (2.8 & 2.2mm) and E.coli (2.4 & 1.8mm) bacteria

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 Gampa Ramakrishnaiah et al. IRJP 2012, 3 (9)
showed higher inhibitions than P.aurignosa (2.2 & 1.1mm) diethyl ether extracts. Hence the development of proper
in methanol extractions of leaves and bark. But at lower procedures and formulations for effective use of the plant
concentrations no activity and at higher concentrations parts as antimicrobial agents is more required in the future.
(40mg/ml) very less activity was observed against fungi ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
(A.niger). It is in line with the studies of phytochemistry and Authors are thankful to the management of Sree
pharmacological properties of Ficus religiosa by Inder kumar Vidyanikethan Engineering College for their continuous
Makhija et al9. support to complete the research work.
In table two diethyl ether extracts of leaves and bark were REFERENCES:
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(1.0 & 0.9mm) and B.subtilis (1.4 & 1.2mm) bacteria showed India, 2008. pp: 132.
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and leaves of the plant has more antimicrobial activity than

Table: 1. Antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts of leaves and bark of Ficus religiosa.
Methanol extracts
Leaves extract Bark extract
S.No Tested microbes Zone of inhibitions (mm) Zone of inhibitions (mm)
10 mg/ml 20 30 40 10 20 mg/ml 30 40 mg/ml
mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml
1 E.coli 0.7 0.9 1.1 2.4 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.8
2 Pseudomonas 0.6 0.8 1.0 2.2 -- -- 0.8 1.1
aurignosa
3 Bacillus subtilis 0.9 1.2 1.5 2.8 0.8 1.0 1.2 2.2
4 Aspergillus niger -- -- -- 1.6 -- -- 1.0 1.2
· Values were the mean of five replicates.

Table: 2.Antimicrobial activity of diethyl ether extracts of leaves and bark of Ficus religiosa.
Diethyl ether extracts
Leaves extract Bark extract
S.No Tested microbes Zone of inhibitions (mm) Zone of inhibitions (mm)
10 mg/ml 20 30 40 10 20 mg/ml 30 40
mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml
1 E.coli 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.9
2 Pseudomonas 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.9 -- -- -- --
aurignosa
3 Bacillus subtilis 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 0.7 0.9 0.9 1.2
4 Aspergillus niger -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
· Values were the mean of five replicates.

Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared

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