INVESTIGATION OF ANTI BACTERIAL AND ANTI FUNGAL POTENTIALS OF MACARANGA PELTATA

Macaranga peltata belonging to Euphorbiaceae family. Leaves and stem bark were separated, shade dried and extracted separately using methanol. The concentrated methanolic extracts of Macaranga peltata were subjected to antimicrobial studies. The percentage yield of the leaves and stem bark were found to be 47% and 30% respectively. The anti-bacterial activity of Leaf and Stem Bark extracts of Macaranga peltata was determined by Cup-plate method and Zone of Inhibition was measured. Zone of Inhibition was found to be 16mm for Leaf extract and 13mm and 14mm for Stem Bark extract in two different sets against Escherichia coli. Out of two Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus Zone of Inhibition was obtained only for Staphylococcus aureus that was 16mm for Leaf extract and 12mm and 13mm for Stem Bark. Leaf extracts showed better anti-bacterial activity than the Stem Bark extract against both Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Leaf extract was between 62.5 mu g/ml to 125 mu g/ml for Escherichia coli, 125 mu g/ml to 250 mu g/ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 62.5 mu g/ml to 125 mu g/ml for Bacillus subtilis and 31.25 mu g/ml to 62.5 mu g/ml for Staphylococcus aureus. Whereas MIC for Stem Bark extract was between 500 mu g/ml to 1000 mu g/ml for Escherichia coli, 250 mu g/ml to 500 mu g/ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 62.5 mu g/ml to 125 mu g/ml for Bacillus subtilis and 62.5 mu g/ml to 125 mu g/ml for Staphylococcus aureus. Ciprofloxacin used as standard antibiotic showed MIC between 1.953 mu g/ml to7.813 mu g/ml for all four bacterial strains.