Abstract

ANTI BACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME PLANTS BELONGING TO THE FAMILY RUBIACEAE: A REVIEW

*Katyayani Dutta Choudhury¹, Manabendra Dutta Choudhury², Mukul Baruah³

ABSTRACT

Rubiaceae, one of the biggest families found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world have a great medicinal significance. Currently, there are about 611 genera and 13,143 species in the family having various ranges of ethnomedicinal practices. Secondary metabolites from various plant parts have been extracted using various solvent systems, investigated scientifically for antimicrobial activities and a large number of plant products have been shown to inhibit the growth of pathogenic micro organisms. A number of these agents appear to have structures and modes of action that are distinct from those of the antibiotics in current use, suggesting that cross-resistance with agents already in use may be minimal. Within the recent years, infections have increased to a great extent and antibiotics resistance becomes an ever-increasing therapeutic problem. The anti microbial properties of the plants belonging to the family Rubiaceae are discussed in this present review paper which may give a new source of anti microbial agents with possibly novel mechanisms of action. Literature survey reveals that 48 genera out of 611 genera are investigated to possess anti bacterial properties. Most of the plants under investigation have been reported to have a broad range of anti bacterial activity.

Keywords: Anti bacterial, Rubiaceae, Antimicrobial, Infection, Pathogenic.