In vitro screening of Circium arvense for potential antibacterial and antifungal activities

The antimicrobial activities of Circium arvense extracts were evaluated against two human gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus) and four gram negative pathogen (Escherichia coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae). The Methanol extracts of Circium arvense were used to obtain various fractions (X1) n-hexane, (X2) chloroform, (X3) ethyl acetate and (X4) n-butanol. The agar well diffusion assay and agar dilution susceptibility testing were carried out to determine the zone of inhibitions and the minimum inhibitory concentration respectively. Antifungal activity was employed by agar well diffusion method. The Ampicilline, Ofloxacine and Itraconazole were used as standard agents. Almost all fractions exhibited more or less antimicrobial activity. The X2 (Chloroform) fraction was reported as highly active fraction with good antimicrobial activity MIC 0.312 mg/ml against staphylococcus areous. The MBC values of fraction X2 (chloroform) was 2 times the MIC. Similarly all fractions exhibited good inhibitory activities against Aspergillus niger. The fraction X1(n-hexane) was found highly active 6(±0.11), followed by X2 (chloroform) fraction 5 (±0.17). Present study provides a base to explore the antimicrobial potential of Circium arvense. It is concluded that the Circium arvense having potential antibacterial and antifungal activities, irrespective of fact that the MIC values reported were high. Further investigations are recommended to exploit the hidden medicinal value of plant.