The antibacterial activity of stem extracts from Malaysian Uncaria tomentosa against pathogenic bacteria
2011
Nor Haslini Wahid | Rohaya Ahmad | Zainon Mohd Noor
The search for new antimicrobial agent from higher plants has increased significantly in the last few decades. In addition, there is an increasing concern on the lookout for drugs that contain no preservatives or that are preserved naturally. There is need, therefore to search for such plants as alternatives for the development of new natural drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial potential of Malaysian Uncaria tomentosa stem extracts against selected microorganisms with the possible use as a new antimicrobial agent. Hexane, dichloromethane and 80% ethanol stem extracts of Uncaria tomentosa were tested against three Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) and Staphylococcus epidermidis, Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Shigella flexneri 2a. The antibacterial tests were determined by agar-well diffusion method and expressed as the average diameter of the clear zone of inhibition of bacterial growth around the wells. The results obtained revealed that hexane and dichloromethane stem extracts exhibited inhibition on three Gram-positive bacteria with diameter of inhibition zone ranging between 8.5 to 14 mm. The 80% ethanol did not show inhibitory action on S. aureus and S. epidermidis but only showed inhibitory action on B. subtilis. The Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more susceptible to the extracts than the Gram-negative bacteria tested. The findings from this study can provide antibacterial potential of U. tomentosa.
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