Screening of antimicrobial activity of Withania somnifera and Aloe vera plant extracts against food borne pathogens

B. Srinu, B. Vikram Kumar, L.

Abstract

Methanolic and aqueous extracts of plants Withania somnifera and Aloe Vera were tested for antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Bacillus cereus, E.coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoneae. Well diffusion method was used to test the antimicrobial activity. The results exhibited that the extracts of Withania somnifera and Aloe Vera were showed excellent antimicrobial activity against all the test organisms. Methonalic extracts of both the plants showed good antibacterial activity when compared to aqueous extracts. Gram positive bacteria found to be more sensitive than the gram negative bacteria. Phytochemical screening of plant extracts revealed the presence of various types of bioactive components such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides, which might be responsible for exhibiting antibacterial activity.