Antimicrobial activities of the leaves and roots of <i>Elaeagnus umbellata</i> Thunb

Abstract

Plants are the rich natural source of bioactive compounds. The more diversified composition of the plants makes their role as biomedicine. These bioactive molecules are often lethal to both plants and animals. Based on ethnomedical use, the leaves and root of Elaeagnus umbellata (Elaeagnaceae) were extracted successively with various organic solvents and water. These crude extracts were screened for their toxic potential against three Gram- positive bacteria, five Gram- negative bacteria, one  yeast, and one fungus by using disc diffusion method. The acetone, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol and  methanol extracts of the plant possessed significant antimicrobial activities on both Gram- positive and Gram- negative bacteria. The acetone, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of leaves and roots of the plant exhibited prominent activities while chloroform, ethanol extracts showed moderate activity and water extract showed no activity against all the tested bacteria. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts also showed considerable activity against fungus and yeast. The root extracts of the plant were found more active against the microorganisms.

Keywords: Elaeagnus umbellata, extracts, fungi, yeast, antibiotic discs.