Inhibition of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus by botanical extracts of Wagatea spicata

Western Ghats of India is treasure house of medicinal plants, comprising of algae, herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees which are annuals to perennials. Some of these are used for traditional and folk medicinal practices. The present study is carried out to find the antibacterial efficacy of Wagatea spicata a shrubby medicinal plant of Western Ghats, whose roots, bark and leaves have been used for several ailments by local people against fever, cough, gastrointestinal disorders, skin ailments etc., Shade dried leaf, bark and flower powder of the plant has been extracted with water. Aqueous extracts of plant materials are tested against two Methicillin resistant (MRSA), two Methicillin sensitive (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus and ten other species of pathogenic bacteria through agar diffusion method. Wagatea spicata having Phenolic and flavonoid rich plant materials significantly inhibited MRSA, MSSA and five other species of pathogenic bacteria at a very low concentration. The findings of this study showed antibacterial efficacy of Wagatea spicata.