Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activity of Methanolic Extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L.

In the present study, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of methanolic extract of Boerhavia diffusa were investigated. The extract was tested against six bacterial species, seven fungi species and two types of yeast. Both stem and leaf extracts of Boerhavia diffusa showed antimicrobial activity in a dose dependant manner (300–1800μg). Leaf extract of Boerhavia diffusa showed maximum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus sub sp aureus (22 mm) and maximum antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum (13 mm). Cytotoxicity of the whole plant extract was assayed in HCT-116 and K-562 cell lines using MTT assay and the extract showed weak cytotoxicity in both of the cell lines.