Antimicrobial Activity of Oxalis corniculata Linn

Oxalis is one of the most invading plant genera, 34 species are considered invasive, and the genus ranks 15th on the list of 126 invasive plant genera, with Oxalis corniculata ranked as one of the worlds worst weeds. The weed is troublesome in tropical, temperate and Mediterranean climates, including 37 countries, and has been reported to invade 30 different crops, causing yield losses in turnip, cotton, potato, soybean, apple and maize. Yield losses mainly occur when the growth of the weed coincides with the early growth of the crop. Occasionally, the yield losses are considered in significant, or the presence of O. corniculata is considered positive, i. e. , when it protects the soil from erosion and competes with other weeds that are considered more harmful to the crop. The crude drug powder extracts of the leaves of the above plants were taken for the study. The antibacterial activity was performed by using gram positive and gram negative organism viz. , Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus Sp. The antifungal activity was performed by using both Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Antimicrobial activity was performed by agar well diffusion method. The petroleum ether solvent extracts of test material showed marked antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganism. The results showed that the 100 % concentration of Oxalis corniculata petroleum ether extract have highest antibacterial activity and 100 % petroleum ether concentration extract is effective for Aspergillus niger and 75 % petroleum ether concentration extract is effective for Aspergillus flavus.