Inhibitory Activity of Polyalthia longifolia, Anaphalis lawii and Gnidia glauca against Colletotrichum capsici and Urinary Tract Pathogens

Abstract

The present study was conducted with an aim of determining inhibitory effect of extracts from different parts of Polyalthia longifolia (leaf, ripe and unripe pericarp), Anaphalis lawii (leaf and flower), Gnidia glauca (leaf, bark and flower) against Colletotrichum capsici and urinary tract pathogens. The shade dried plant materials were extracted using methanol. Antifungal effect of extracts was evaluated against Colletotrichum capsici isolated from anthracnose of chilli by Poisoned food technique. Antibacterial activity of extracts was determined against five antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections by Agar well diffusion assay. The extracts caused marked inhibition of mycelial growth of C. capsici as indicated by reduced diameter of fungal colonies on poisoned plates. Extracts of P. longifolia inhibited C. capsici to higher extent followed by A. lawii and G. glauca. All extracts from selected plants inhibited test bacteria but to varied extent. Susceptibility was higher in case of Gram positive when compared to Gram negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were inhibited to higher extent among Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria respectively. Among plants, P. longifolia caused higher inhibition of test bacteria. The extracts from the selected plants can be considered as promising sources of bioactive agents which can be used to treat urinary tract infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria and to control anthracnose of chilli. Further studies are to be carried in order to isolate and characterize bioactive principles from extracts and to determine their inhibitory potential against C. capsici and uropathogens.