Antibacterial and Antifungal Studies of Tagetes erectus Leaf Extracts

Five different crude extracts: petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl ether, ethanol and aqueous extract of Tagetes erectus have been studied for both in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activites. The different extracts showed remarkable inhibitory action against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria and two fungal species.The methanolic extract of the leaves of Tagetes erectus was screened for antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was detected by observing the growth response of various microorganisms to the methanolic extract of Tagetes erectus which was placed in contact with them against the test organisms. Their microbiological assay is based on the comparison of inhibition of growth of microorganisms by measured concentration of plant extracts to be examined with that produced by known concentration of standard preparation of antibiotic having known activity. Positive antifungal activity was observed with methanolic extract against Candida albicans, no bacterial activity was observed.