ANTI BACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF DERRIS SCANDENS

The antimicrobial activity of ethanol, methonal extracts of Derris scandens whole plant which is used as an herb in Thai traditional medicine was evaluated against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The whole plant was extracted by using maceration method for both solvents. The antimicrobial activity and MIC of plant was determined by using agar diffusion method. The medium selected was nutrient agar medium. The organisms selected are Strains of Staphylococcus aureus(MTCC-96), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(MTCC-424), Escherichia coli (MTCC443), and Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-736) which are purchased from IMTEC. Gentamycin (0.001%) is used as a standard drug. From the results it was obtained that the ethanolic and methanolic extract of whole plant of Derris scandens showed significant inhibition zones. Among all organisms more significant inhibition zone was observed for P.a, E.c, P.v for both extracts. After observing measurable inhibition zones the work was continued to determine MIC for both extracts of whole plant by taking concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. Both extracts of D.s had given an MIC at 15% for all organisms. In conclusion the methanol extract of whole plant of D.s had showed good inhibitory effect than ethanol extracts on growth of P.a, E.c,P.v. which are nosocomial infection bacteria. Keywords: Anti-bacterial, Derris Scandens, Ethanol, Methanol, disc diffusion, MIC.