ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA LINN (FLOWERS)

The aim of the present study was to examine the antimicrobial effect of the sample from the ethylacetate fraction of flowers of Argemone Mexicana Linn. This sample was shown to possess antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, viz. Six bacterial strains were Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus substilis, Lacto bacillus and two fungal strains Curvularia lunata and Candida albicans by using disc diffusion method. The anti bacterial activity of the sample from ethyl acetate fraction is almost comparable with standard solvent control Chloramphenicol. The anti fungal activity is almost comparable with standard solvent control Fluconazole. The results obtained from this study indicate that A. mexicana is a potential source of antimicrobial and thus could prevent many diseases. Keywords: Argemone Mexicana Linn; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; diffusion method; Chloramphenicol;