Abstract

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF LEAF AND BARK EXTRACTS OF PIMENTA DIOICA (LINN.) MERILL AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS

Asha M.M, Chaithra M, Yashoda Kambar, Vivek M.N, Prashith Kekuda T.R*

ABSTRACT

Pimenta dioica (Linn.) Merill (family: Myrtaceae) is commonly known as Allspice, Pimenta, Pimento, Clove pepper and Jamaica pepper. The aim of the present study was to determine antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of leaf and bark of P. dioica. Inhibitory effect of leaf and bark extracts was determined by agar well diffusion assay against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans recovered previously from burn and dental caries patients respectively. The extracts were found to be effective in inhibiting test bacteria. S. mutans isolates were highly susceptible to extracts when compared to S. aureus isolates. The potential of extracts to inhibit clinical isolates of bacteria could be attributed to the presence of inhibitory components that are present in the extracts. The plant can be a potential candidate for the development of agents active against pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords: Pimenta dioica, Allspice, Agar well diffusion, Dental caries, Burn.