1Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam, India
2Department of Botany, Cotton College, Guwahati- 781001, Assam, India
3Department of Biotechnology, Assam University, Silchar-7881011, Assam, India.
*For Correspondence - routjaya@rediffmail.com
Online published on 29 April, 2013.
Traditional systems of medicine are often a valuable source of novel antimicrobials. Dima Hasao Hill district is endowed with rich cultures of traditional system of medicine and this study is the first of its kind from the area. The aim of the study is to to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of Trema orientalis Blume (Ulmaceae) on six selected bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined with the aqueous extract to validate the application of the plant species in traditional medicine.
Plant materials were collected after prior informed consent and processed using standard herbarium technique. Antimicrobial activity was determined by Kirby-Bauer Agar Disc Diffusion method with slight procedural modifications. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the aqueous extract was determined with standard antibiotics as positive control.
The selected bacterial strains were highly susceptible to the test material. Aqueous extracts showed fairly good activity. The zones of inhibition of all the test materials ranged from 11 to 15 mm. MIC of aqueous extract showed inhibition of bacterial growth at a concentration as low as 0.625 mg/ml.
T. orientalis is a potentially good source of antibacterial agent. The efficacy against the selected bacterial strains and the resultant MIC values corroborates with its application in traditional medicine.
Antimicrobial, Dima Hasao Hill district, Trema orientalis, plant extracts
