Antimicrobial activity of Parthenium hysterophorus against five bacterial strains

Abstract

Microbial resistance to classical antibiotics and have raised serious concern in the treatment of infectious diseases. Recently, many studies have been directed towards finding promising solutions to overcome these problems. Phytochemicals have exerted potential antibacterial activities against sensitive and resistant pathogens via different mechanisms of action. Parthenium hysterophorus is a yearly and local herb used for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-parasitic and anthelminthic properties. The present study was conducted to find out the antibacterial potential of Parthenium hysterophorus. Fresh and dry samples of leaves, stem and flowers in ethanol, methanol and acetone extracts were tested against bacterial strains through agar well diffusion assay. Variable results of antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella paratyphi A, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli were obtained. Fresh flower, fresh leaves and fresh stem extracts with ethanol, methanol and acetone of P. hysterophorus showed no specific effect on P. mirabilus. Maximum effect was observed both in case of fresh as well as dry plant extracts on E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The findings provide support for the use of Parthenium hysterophorus in producing new bioactivity compounds having antimicrobial activity.