Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Acalypha indica against various enteric gut pathogens

The present study aimed to identify the photochemical constituents and possible microbicidal potential of ethanol and aqueous extract of Acalypha indica leaf extract on various gut pathogens. Shade dried leaves of Acalypha indica were extracted with solvents of increasing polarity. In vitro anti microbial activity of the water and alcoholic extracts of A. indica was performed by agar punch well diffusion method on selected gut pathogens. Phytochemical study of the extracts of A. indica reveals the presence of phytoconstituents like alkaloids, phytosterols, carbohydrates and gums and mucilage's. Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed good to moderate activity against Plesiomonas shigelloide, Shigella flexineri , Klebsiella pneumonia, Vibrio cholera and Staphylococcus aureus. From the above results we conclude that, the traditionally used medicinal plant A.indica can be useful against the disease causing gut pathogens.