Analysis of Antimicrobial Activity of Aqua Alcoholic Extract of Boerhaavia diffusa Against Oral Pathogens -An In vitro Study

Introduction: Boerhavia diffusa (Mukkirattai) of the Nyctaginaceae family is a widely used folk medicinal plant that grows as a common weed with its leaves, seeds and roots are useful parts with pharmacological activities with a cure for twenty-three ailments. Phytochemical constituents of B.diffusa showing antimicrobial activity includes phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides.

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the qualitative analysis of the antimicrobial activity of aqua alcoholic extracts of Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Family: Nyctaginaceae) leaves.

Materials and Methods: Boerhavia diffusa (Mukkirattai) was freshly procured as a powdered form from different solvent extracts that were tested against the Gram-positive bacteria and fungal strains by observing the zone of inhibition which showed the antimicrobial activity of Boerhaavia diffusa L. Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and fungal strains Candida albicans were used in this test. The obtained data were analyzed statistically by Non parametric Spearman correlation analysis.

Results: Antimicrobial activity was observed in the aqueous-alcoholic extracts against Gram-positive bacilli, cocci and fungal strains. The aqua alcoholic extract of B. diffusa showed positive correlation with p value less than 0.05 with antimicrobial effect against fungal strains (e.g. C. albicans which had a zone of inhibition diameter of 26mm) and with Gram-positive bacteria (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus showed inhibition diameter of 20 mm), with Gram Positive cocci (e.g. Streptococcus mutans showed an inhibition diameter of 18 mm) when compared to Enterococcus faecalis.

Conclusion: The Aqua alcoholic extract of Boerhavia diffusa being biofriendly and inexpensive has a very strong Antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus while it showed minimal antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis.