Antimicrobial Activity of Calotropis procera against Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

Plants and their active compounds are safely used in treatment of several diseases. The leaf extract and latex of Calotropis procera (C. procera) are prepared in chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extracts against clinically important pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Antibacterial activity of C. procera extract and latex is done using agar well diffusion method. The leaves extract of C. procera has antibacterial activity on pathogenic microorganisms. The widest zone of inhibition of 19mm for M. morganii, E. coli and S. Typhi is demonstrated while minimum of 13mm for P. alcalifaciens by the ethanolic leaf extract of C. procera latex in ethanol shows good activity. M. morganii, Y. enterocolitic, S. Typhi,S. marcescens with a zone inhibition of 13mm, followed by B. megaterium, S. aureus, and P. fluorescens of 12 mm. C. procera  latex extracts in Chloroform possess good activity against S. Typhi with an inhibition zone of 12mm. The extract shows low activity against C. albicans (yeast) (5, 9, & 3mm) and F. oxysporum (6, 9 & 5mm). While the extract was active H. maydis and F. oxysporum 11mm zone of ethanol extract. We recommend C. procera latex in comparison to leaf extract for medicinal purposes in pharmaceutical industries. It is concluded that chloroform, ethanol and aqueous of C. procera leaf extract and latex have antibacterial as well as the antifungal potentials against clinical strains and thus derive antimicrobial agents especially M. morganii, E. coli, S. Typhi and P. alcalifaciens.