Environment friendly antibacterial activity of water chestnut fruits

Antibacterial activities of the fruit extract of two varieties (Green and red varieties) of water chestnut by the disc diffusion method from methanol extract were studied. The extract of red variety of water chestnut showed high antibacterial potential (31mm) against Bacillus subtilis with the concentration of 600. On the other hand, green variety showed highest antibacterial activities (12mm) against both Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella sonnei with the concentration of 600g kanamycin used as standard. In this disc diffusion assay, the methanol extract of red variety was found to have a significant antibacterial efficiency than the extract of green variety of water chestnut. These findings pinpoint the efficiency of these extracts to inhibit microbial growth. It may lead to the development of a new phyto-medicine.