Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

I ndia is a land of rich biodiversity and plants are the potential source of medicines since ancient times. Achyranthes aspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae) is commonly found as a terrestrial weed on waysides and waste places throughout India. In ayurvedic system of medicine, the parts of this plant are used to treat various types of chronic as well as infectious diseases. Crude organic (ethanol, methanol and acetone) and aqueous (hot and cold) extracts from A. aspera leaves and roots were tested against five bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Escherchia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter sp) and one fungal (Candida albicans) ear pathogen through agar well diffusion method. Organic leaves and root extracts of this plant were found active against three bacteria: S. aureus, P. mirabilis and E. coli with zone of inhibition ranging between 13.6 mm and 22.6 mm while aqueous leaves extracts (hot and cold) displayed activity against two pathogens (S. aureus and P. mirabilis) and aqueous root extract showed activity against one pathogen, S. aureus with zone of inhibition ranging between 18.3 mm and 13.6 mm. Of the bacterial pathogens tested, S.aureus was found most sensitive with maximum zone of inhibition of 22.6mm and 18.6mm followed by P.mirabilis (21.6mm and 17.3mm) and E. coli (16.3mm and15.6 mm). The zone of inhibition shown by the six organic extracts, both leaves and roots, against C.albicans was weak that ranged between 13.6 mm and 16.3 mm. The aqueous extracts totally lacked antiyeast activity. The MIC value for A. aspera leaves and roots extracts ranged between 12.5mg/ml and 50mg/ml. S.aureus and P.mirabilis were found more sensitive pathogens showing the lowest MIC of 12.5mg/ml and 25mg/ml in ethanolic extracts whereas E.coli was found least sensitive with MIC of 50mg/ml. MIC value for C.albicans in all the organic extracts was 50mg/ml. Ethanolic extracts of both leaves and roots of A. aspera were found best among all the tested solvents followed by acetonic, methanolic, hot aqueous and cold aqueous extract. Keeping in view the good antimicrobial activity of weeds against human pathogens, this weed should be protected for its exploitation as an antimicrobial agent in pharmaceutical industry for the welfare of human beings. However, more detailed studies such as in vivo testing of this weed to determine its toxicity and pharmacokinetics properties are needed to determine their therapeutic potential.

Biography

Dr. Chetan Sharma has done his PhD. in Microbiology with the Professor K.R. Aneja from Kurukshetra University, Haryana, India (2012). His primary field is medical, herbal and environmental microbiology with research emphasis on antimicrobial potential of plants and chemical compounds against the human pathogens. Presently, he is working as Assistant Professor in Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, India. He has published more than 40 research papers in reputed journals and screened about 60 plants against the ear pathogens. He also serves as Regional Editor of five journals of Science alert, USA and as reviewer for Microbiology Research journal published by Bio info publications. He is also member of editorial board in International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, India