Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF HENNA LEAVES AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

Pratiksha V. Rathi*, Dipak Ambhore, Pooja Jamode, Priyanka Katkar and Pooja Kamble

ABSTRACT

Antibiotics are used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. They may act as bactericidal or bacteriostatic. Products obtained from natural sources are closely linked to medicine as they are used for treatment and prevention of different diseases. In response to external stimuli, plants and microorganisms produces natural products which are considered as secondary metabolite. These natural products show wide pharmacological activities due to which they have remarkable importance in pharmaceutical industries. Lawsoniainermis (Lanthraceae) which is commonly known as ‗Henna‘ is widely used in the cosmetic industry as a stain for hands and hair. It is also active against some skin diseases. The use of henna in jaundice, enlargement of spleen is reported. Antifungal activity of ethanolic extract of whole plant of henna is also reported. So the present work is performed with the objective to study antibacterial activity of extract of henna leaves. It is considered that quinones and napthoquinones are present as secondary metabolites in henna leaves. The antibacterial activity of quinones is also reported. The cold aqueous extraction of henna leaves was carried out here. The antibacterial activity of the extract of henna leaves has been performed on Staphylococcus aureus and E. Coli. The extract shows better activity against S. aureus.

Keywords: Antibiotic, Lawsoniainermis (Henna leaves), Naphthoquinones, S. aureus and E. coli.