Antienterobacterial activity of Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. root extract.

The antienterobacterial activity of the chloroform and methanol extracts of Hemidesmus indicus root was demonstrated using a variety of methods and different enterobacterial strains. Although the constituents were similar in the chloroform extract (CHI) and the fatty substance separated (ME1) from the methanol extract (MHI), ME1 was found to be more effective than CHI as evident from the disc diffusion method. ME1 was found to be more active than MHI, followed by CHI. This may be due to the inefficient diffusion of CHI into the medium. In a modified agar well diffusion and swab method the activity of the extract against different strains was observed in a single plate. The extracts inhibited growth in a dose dependent manner; both MHI and CHI were most effective against S. flexneri, least effective against S. dysenterie and moderately effective against the other strains. The presence of antimicrobial trace elements such as copper and zinc, along with other active constituents may contribute to the antienterobacterial activity of Hemidesmus indicus root.