A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF BERBERIS ARISTATA AND BERBERIS ASIATICA ON GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOGENS
Shraddha K. C.*, Shobha Amagain, Shyaron Poudel and Anup Basnet
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study had been envisioned to assess the antibacterial activity of the different parts viz. root, bark, stem, leaf and fruit of Berberis aristata and Berberis asiatica with a view to compare the potentiality of these respective plants as an antimicrobial agent. Methods: The study involved the identification, collection, extraction and antibacterial analysis of the respective extract. The crude extract was prepared by Solvent Extraction method to make a final concentration of 100mg/ml and analysed using Agar well diffusion method against 6 gastrointestinal pathogens: Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 23857), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Salmonella Typhi (ATCC 27870). Results: The extract was overall more effective against gram positive organisms. The root and bark extract of both plants presented the maximum inhibitory action against all test organisms in a comparable range. The root extract was most effective against B. subtilis with respective inhibition size of 24mm and 22mm for B. aristata and B. asiatica. The bark extract showed the highest activity against S. aureus for both plants. Stem extract of B. aristata and B. asiatica inhibited 5 and 3 bacterial strains repectively. The leaf and fruit extract of both the plants exhibited the least activity. Conclusion: The present study reflected the potentiality of B. asiatica as a substitute to B. aristata as an antimicrobial agent and emphasizes the need to screen for the overall study of the plant so as to utilize them for therapeutic purposes.
Keywords: Berberis aristata; Berberis asiatica; Agar well diffusion; Gastrointestinal pathogens; Antibacterial activity; Zone of Inhibition.
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