Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 439-445. 2008.
In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Melia azedarach Crude Leaf Extracts Against Some Human Pathogenic Bacterial Strains
Abdul Viqar Khan,1* Athar Ali Khan2 and Indu Shukla3
1, 2 Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh , 202002, India 3 Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh , 202002, India
*Corresponding Author:
Issued 25 June 2008
Abstract The emphasis of this paper is upon the sensitivity of the crude leaf extracts of Melia azedarach against some of the hospital isolated human pathogenic bacterial strains. Five plant extracts (Petrol, Benzene, Methanol, Ethyl acetate and Aqueous) under five different concentrations (1mg/ml, 2mg/ml, 5mg/ml, 10mg/ml and 15mg/ml) were tested by the Disk diffusion method. Methanol, Ethyl acetate and Aqueous extracts of the plant showed significant inhibition against bacteria tested. A comparison was made among the sensitivity demonstrated by the leaf extracts and known medicinal and ethnobotanical uses. Key Words: Melia azedarach, Pathogenic bacteria, inhibition. IntroductionPlant species have been exploited for the treatment of disease by different ethnic societies residing in different parts of the world. But traditional cultures without the knowledge of modern research are not able to trace the importance of plant species for human beings and science has identified the unique techniques to test the beneficiary effects of plant compounds. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infectious diseases are the number one cause of deaths world wide and account for 50 % of the deaths in tropical countries. The number of Multiple Drug Resistant microbial strains or those with a reduced susceptibility to antibiotics are increasing yearly, and this is attributed to indiscriminate use of broad spectrum antibiotics, surgery, epidermidis of HIV infections etc. In the last few decades, pharmacological industries have produced a number of antibiotics, but the resistance of microbes has increased. It has been reported that bacterial strains have developed resistance to almost all the antibiotics. Further more, some antibiotics have serious undesirable side effects which limit their applications, hence, our ultimate goal is to develop antimicrobial agents which are very effective with minimal unwanted side effects. Reports say that higher plants are the potential source of novel antibiotics. According to WHO, about 80% of individuals from developing countries use traditional medicine, therefore such plant species should be investigated in order to better understand their pharmacological properties, safety and efficacy. Use of plants extracts and their constituents, both with known antimicrobial properties, can be of great significance in therapeutic treatment. In the last few years, a number of studies have been conducted worldwide to prove such efficacy. Investigations in this field revealed that many plants possess anti microbial properties that are due to compounds produced by the plants, as, for example, phenolic compounds, tannins and nitrogenous compounds (Cox,1994, Khan & Khan,2003, Khan etal.,2002 ). In view of the ethnobotanical uses and medicinal properties of Melia azedarach L. [Meliaceae], it was conjectured that this plant might possess antibacterial properties; hence, crude leaf extracts were employed in tests designed to measure the sensitivity of this species against some hospital isolated pathogenic bacterial strains.
Common Names China berry, Persian lilac, Pride of India, China tree, Pride of China, Umbrella tree, Umbrella China berry, Indian lilac, Bead tree (English); Bakain, Drek, Dek, Pejri, Padrai (India); Bakainu (Nepal); Thamaga (Burma); Mindi (Java); Inia (Hawaii); Alelaila (Puerto Rico); Jacinto (Panama); Aleli (Venezuela); West Indian lilac, Lilac (West Indies);Lilas (Haiti, French); Cinnamumo (Brazil) and Ois rouge (New Celedonia).
Scientific name: Melia azedarach Linn. Family: Meliaceae Description: The plant is a small-to medium-sized deciduous tree, 5 to 15 m tall and 30 to 60 cm in diameter. It has a spreading, dense and dark green crown. Its bark is dark or reddish brown, smooth, and becoming fissured. The leaves are alternate. Leaflets have short stalks and are thin, hairless, dark green on the upper surface and paler underneath. They emit a pungent smell when crushed. Flowers are purple and fragrant. Fruits or berries are yellow, nearly round, smooth, and fleshy. They are as hard as stone, containing 4 to 5 black seeds.
Distribution: Melia azedarach Linn. is native to tropical Asia. It is widespread and naturalized in most of the tropics and subtropical countries. It was introduced and naturalized in the Philippines and now cultivated even in Manila. (Kirtikar & Basu, 1935, Anonymous, 1976, Asolkar etal., 1992).
Known medicinal uses: Leaves: leprosy, scrofula, anthelmintic, antilithic, diuretic, deobstruent, resolvent. Root: resolvent, deobstruent. Seeds: rheumatism. Leaves: Leaf extract has insecticidal property (azadirachtin) that repels insects in clothing. The leaves can also serve as feed for goats. Seed oil: The oil is the most active medicinal product of the plant. It is used as antiseptic for sores and ulcers that show no tendency to heal. It is also used for rheumatism and skin diseases such as ringworm and scabies. Internally, the oil is useful in malaria fever and leprosy.
Ethnomedicinal uses in Northern India *Burns: Fresh leaf extract is applied externally.*Gingivitis (Inflamed bleeding gums): Fresh leaf extract is used as mouth wash.*Gonorrhea: Stem bark infusion 30-50 ml is administered orally twice a day.*Spicy food is not allowed during the course of treatment. Piles (Bleeding: Leaf extract 5 ml is administered orally thrice a day. *Pyrexia: Leaf extract 5-10 ml is administered orally twice a day for 7 days. (* less known uses) (Khan, 2002).
Chemical constituents: Bakayanin, quercitrin, rutin, backalactone 6 b-hydroxy-4-stigmastem-3-one and 6 b-hydroxy-4-campesten-3-one, 4, 5-dihydroxy-7-0-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1à4)-b-D-glucopyranoside, cystine, serine, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, threonine, methionine, leucine, lycine, and proline.
Pharmacology: Powdered dust of fruit insecticidal, crude extract from wood and bark insecticidal, oil antibacterial. Alcoholic extract (50% EtOH) of leaf anthelmentic, oil with unspecified extract central nervous system depressant, mild analgesic, depression followed by stimulation in animals. Alcoholic extract (50% EtOH) of stem bark anticancerous, antispasmodic, antiviral ( Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1991, 1993, Rastogi, 1998, Satyavati, etal, 1987 ).
Materials and MethodsPlant materialAerial plant parts of Melia azedarach L. [Meliaceae], were collected from different localities of Aligarh district, India. Voucher specimen number [AV014, AV206] of the plant were deposited in the Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh , 202002, India. |
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Gram Negative Bacteria |
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PETROL |
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5 |
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5 |
5 |
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10 |
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7 |
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16 |
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14 |
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14 |
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10 |
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11 |
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BENZENE |
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5 |
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14 |
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ETHYL ACETATE |
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METHANOL |
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AQUEOUS |
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Chloramphenicol |
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18 |
18 |
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Gram Positive Bacteria
1.Staphylococcus aureus* 2.Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 3.Staphylococcus epidermidis*, 4. Group-A Streptococcus* 5. Group-B Streptococcus* 6. Enterococcus faecalis* 7. Bacillus subtilis*.
Gram Negative Bacteria
1. Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Edwardsiella tarda* 3. Klebsiella pneumoniae* 4. Proteus mirabilis * 5. Proteus vulgaris* 6. Pseudomonas aeruginosa* 7. Salmonella typhi *8. Shigella boydi*i 9. Shigella dysenteriae* 10. Shigella flexneri* 11. Plesiomonas shigelloides*.
ATCC American type culture collection,* Hospital isolated pathogenic strains
Chloramphenicol 10mg/disk,aValues are the mean of replication of three; -, no inhibition.