Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA L. (PRICKLY PEAR) AGAINST MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANT (MDR) BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM CLINICAL SAMPLES

Durgesh D. Wasnik* and P. M. Tumane

ABSTRACT

The present study was done for evaluation of antibacterial activity of Opuntia ficus-indica L. against multiple drug resistant (MDR) bacteria isolated from clinical specimen. The antibacterial activity of Opuntia ficus-indica L. were evaluated on MDR strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella spp., Enterococcus faecalis, Citrobacter freundii, Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium and Enterobacter cloacae. Antibacterial activity of five different solvent extracts (Methanol, acetone, ethanol, petroleum ether and n-Hexane) were prepared by using Soxhlet extractor. In-vitro antibacterial activity was performed by agar well diffusion method. The ethanolic and methanolic extract of Opuntia ficus-indica L.showed the presence of Saponins, Glycosides, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Phenolic substance, Di & Tri-terpenes and Proteins. The methanolic extract of leaf of Opuntia ficus-indica L. found highest activity against C. freundii and S. pneumoniae (18 mm). S. aureus showed 16 mm whereas E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. faecalis and E. cloacae showed 14 mm zone of inhibition. The lowest MIC value found against S. pneumoniae and highest MIC value found in the range of 25-50mg/ml in both ethanolic and methanolic extract. Acetone extract also found to be effective against MDR strains. Petroleum ether and n-Hexane showed least antibacterial activity against all MDR strains.

Keywords: MDR, Antibacterial Activity, Opuntia ficus-indica L., Soxhlet extractor