In vitro identification of antimicrobial properties of Scoparia dulcis and Mikania cordata, two common medicinal plants of Bangladesh

Medicinal plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country. They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to rural people. They serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Battle et al, 2005). Thus, this research work was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Scoparia dulcis (Family: Plantaginaceae) and Mikania cordata (Family: Asteraceae). The in vitro antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyrogens, Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae where the ethanolic extract disc (2000μg/disc) of Scoparia dulcis gave 114 mm zone of inhibition against Shigella dysenteriae in contrast to the commercial Tetracycline's highest zone of inhibition 140 mm and Mikania cordata test sample (2000μg/disc) gave a greater zone of inhibition 160 mm than the commercial antibiotic disc against Staphylococcus aureus. The MIC value of the ethanolic stem extract of Mikania cordata was found at 1250μg/ml and of Scoparia dulcis at 2500μg/ml Shigella dysenteriae and for Streptococcus pyrogen the MIC value of the ethanolic stem extract of Mikania cordata was found at 5000 μg/ml and for Scoparia dulcis at 5000 μg/ml.