Preliminary Pharmacognostical Studies and Antimicrobial Activity of Ziziphus maurtiana Roots

The microscopic and macroscopic characters of the root of Ziziphus maurtiana Linn, were studied. The behavior of the powdered drug in the presence of various chemicals was also studied. Preliminary phytochemical screening on the various extracts of the root of the plant was also performed. Ethanolic extract of the roots of Ziziphus maurtiana were screened for its antimicrobiial activity against E. coli, Bacillus subtilise, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and proved it as a potent herbal antimicrobial agent as compared to standard antibiotics. The antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was remarkable.