Evaluation of antibacterial activity of aquatic pteridophyte salvinia molesta d.s. Mithchell.

Abstract

The study focused on the antibacterial activity of Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell. activity against five Gram positive bacteria and five Gram negative bacteria. The selected bacteria selected for the study were Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella paratyphi. The solvents used were acetic acid, ethanol, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, petroleum ether and aqueous. Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell. showed significant activity was noticed in petroleum ether and ethanol extracts. Significant activity was also recorded in petroleum ether extracts. The minimum inhibition was recorded in diethyl ether extract. No inhibition zone was recorded in aqueous extract.