UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Herbal medicines are used mainly in developing countries for primary health care because of their closeness with human body and have minimum side effects.Leaf and stem extracts of Cassia alata and Cleome gynandra were investigated for antimicrobial activity against clinically important pathogens such as Acinetobacterbaumannii(MCC 2076), Pseudomonas otitidis (MCC 2509), Pseudomonas oleovorans(MCC 2566), Enterococcus faecalis(MCC 2041) and Bacillus cereusby disc diffusion method.Acetone and water extracts of C. gynandra leaf showed maximum inhibition against Gram positive E. faecalis and Gram negative P. oleovorans (20mm). Acetone extract of C. gynandra stem showed maximum inhibition against Gram positive E. faecalis (19mm). Acetone extract of C. alata leaf showed maximum inhibition against Gram positive B. cereus(19mm) and ethanol extract of C. alata stem showed maximum inhibition against Gram positive B. cereus(14mm).GC/MS analysis was carried out for Cleome gynandra leaf sample which showed maximum inhibitory activity against the pathogen P. oleovorans(20mm).Important phytochemicals present in the leaf sample were 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pentanone, Methane, sulfinylbis, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, Tetradecanoic acid, Hexadecanoic acid, 2-Hexadecen-1-ol, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl and 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid. The phytochemicals contribute the antibacterial properties, which is responsible for the therapeutic effect.The plants have shown susbtantial activity against tested bacteria. The antibacterial activity observed in the study could be due to the presence of phytochemicals.  The plants could serves as promising ‘‘leads’’ in the development of effective antimicrobial drugs.