Evaluation of In-Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Selected Indian Medicinal Plants against Human Pathogens

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance necessitates the exploration of alternative antimicrobial agents. This study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of methanolic leaf extracts of nine Indian medicinal plants, including Cassia fistula, Millettia pinnata, and Adhatoda vasica. Antibacterial activity was assessed against two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes) and two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria using the agar well diffusion method. Among the tested extracts, Justicia adhatoda exhibited the highest inhibition against E. aerogenes (16 mm), while Rauvolfia serpentina was most effective against B. subtilis (14 mm). These findings support the traditional use of these plants and suggest their potential as sources for novel antibacterial compounds.