Abstract The antimicrobial activity methanol extracts of Ficus racemosa Linn., belonging to the family Moringaceae, was determined in vitro, using disc diffusion method against human pathogenic bacteria fungi. The displayed a potential antibacterial activity against all the tested four Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio cholera, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella species and Proteus species as well four fungi: Alternaria spp., Colletotrichum spp., Curvularia spp. and Fusarium spp. The highest zone of inhibition was found in the concentration of 200 µg/disc for Staphylococcus aureus (18mm) and in the concentration of 150 µg/disc for Fusarium spp. (12mm). The consequences of this investigation suggest that the extracts of Ficus racemosa can be used to discover antibacterial agent for developing new pharmaceuticals to control studied human pathogenic bacteria responsible for severe illness

Md Abu Sayeed

Md Nasir Uddin

Md Shahadat Hossain

Md. Nasir Uddin

CiteSeerX

 
446 
Journal of Scientific and Innovative Research 2014; 3(4): 446-449 
Available online at: www.jsirjournal.com 
Research Article 
ISSN 2320-4818 
JSIR 2014; 3(4): 446-449 
© 2014, All rights reserved 
Received: 31-07-2014 
Accepted: 21-09-2014 
 
 
Md.Shahadat Hossain 
Department of Pharmacy, 
University of Science and 
Technology Chittagong, 
Chittagong, Bangladesh 
 
Md. Abu Sayeed 
Department of Pharmacy, 
International Islamic University, 
Chittagong, Bangladesh 
 
Md. Nasir Uddin 
Department of Pharmacy, 
University of Science and 
Technology Chittagong, 
Chittagong, Bangladesh 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Correspondence: 
Md.Shahadat Hossain 
Department of Pharmacy, 
University of Science and 
Technology Chittagong, 
Chittagong, Bangladesh 
Tel: +8801911914742 
E-mail: sha_pharm29@yahoo.com  
In-vitro antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of 
Ficus racemosa Linn. fruits 
Md.Shahadat Hossain*, Md. Abu Sayeed, Md. Nasir Uddin 
Abstract 
The antimicrobial activity methanol extracts of Ficus racemosa Linn., belonging to the family 
Moringaceae, was determined in vitro, using disc diffusion method against human pathogenic 
bacteria fungi. The displayed a potential antibacterial activity against all the tested four Gram 
negative and Gram positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio cholera, 
Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella 
species and Proteus species as well four fungi: Alternaria spp., Colletotrichum spp., Curvularia 
spp. and Fusarium spp. The highest zone of inhibition was found in the concentration of 200 
µg/disc for Staphylococcus aureus (18mm) and in the concentration of 150 µg/disc for  
Fusarium spp. (12mm). The consequences of this investigation suggest that the extracts of Ficus 
racemosa can be used to discover antibacterial agent for developing new pharmaceuticals to 
control studied human pathogenic bacteria responsible for severe illness. 
Keywords: Ficus racemosa Linn, Antimicrobial, Disc Diffusion and Atifungal. 
 
Introduction 
Due to availability in the local area of Chittagong, the medicinal plant Ficus racemosa 
was chosen for study. Its medicinal values have been well documented in traditional 
and folklore medicine. Many Ficus species have long been used in folk medicine as 
astringents, carminatives, stomachics, vermicides, hypotensives, anthelmintics and 
anti-dysentery drugs.
1 
Ficus racemosa Linn. (Family; Moraceae) is used in traditional 
system of medicine for the treatment of several disorders. It is one of the herbs 
mentioned in all ancient scriptures of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy. 
Various plant parts such as bark, root, leaf, fruits and latex are used as astringent, 
carminative, vermifuge and anti-dysentery. It is believed to be a good remedy for 
visceral obstructions and extract of the fruit is used in leprosy, diarrhea, circulatory and 
respiratory disorders and menorrhagia.
2, 3, 4 
Roots of Ficus racemosa are used in dysentery, pectoral complaints, diabetes, applied 
in mumps, other inflammatory glandular enlargements. They act as a powerful tonic. 
According to Ayurveda, roots are useful in hydrophobia.
5, 6, 7
 Bark is acrid, cooling, 
galactagogue and good for gynaecological disorders. The stem bark is used to treat 
menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, gonorrhoea, urinary diseases, hemorrhage and skin 
diseases.
8
 The bark is also used for the treatment of dysentery.
6, 7, 9, 10
 The bark is highly 
efficacious in threatened abortion and also recommended in urological disorders, 
diabetes, hiccough, leprosy, asthma and piles.
8
 
Journal of Scientific and Innovative Research  
 
 
447 
According to Unani system of medicine, the leaves are 
astringent to bowels and good in case of bronchitis. The 
leaves are used to treat dysentery, bilious infection and as a 
mouthwash in spongy gum.
11
 The tender leaf buds are 
applied on the skin, in the form of paste, to improve the 
complexion. A decoction of the leaves is a good wash for 
wounds and ulcers. The infusion of bark and leaves is also 
employed as a mouth wash to spongy gums and internally 
in dysentery, menorrhagia, effective remedy in glandular 
swelling, abcess, chronic wounds, cervical adenitis and 
haemoptysis.
8
 Hence, the present study was undertaken 
specifically to investigate  the antimicrobial and antifungal 
activity of sequential extracts of  Ficus racemosa Linn. 
fruits. 
Materials and Methods 
Plant materials 
The fruits of Ficus racemosa were collected during March 
2010 from the local market in Bahadderhat Bazar of 
Chittagong city, Chandanish pourashava,  and  Bagichar 
hat, Chandanish, Chittagong  and identified by National 
Herbarium, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh.  
Extraction  
The fruits  Ficus racemosa  were cut in ½ inches and   
dried in air and finally in a mechanical dryer at 60-70ºC. 
The dried samples were ground to a coarse powder with a 
mechanical grinder and extracted with methanol for 7 days 
with occasional shaking in a beaker. The extract was 
filtered. The filtrate was dried at 50
0
C to 60
0
C and the 
yielded percentage was calculated.  
Bacterial Media (Agar Media) 
36g Nutrient Agar Media was mixed with distilled water 
and then sterilized in an autoclave at 15lb pressure for 15 
minutes. The sterilized media were poured into petri 
dishes. The solidified plates were bored with 5mm 
diameter cork bearer. The plates with wells were used for 
the antibacterial studies. 
Fungal Media (Potato dextrose sugar) 
200g of potato slices were boiled with distilled water. The 
potato infusion was used as a water source for media 
preparation. 20g of dextrose was mixed with potato 
infusion. 20g of agar was added as a solidifying agent. 
These constituents were mixed and autoclaved. The 
solidified plates were bored with 6mm diameter cork 
borer. The plates with wells were used for antifungal 
studies. 
In Vitro Antimicrobial screening 
The antimicrobial activity of the compounds  Ficus 
racemosa Linn, were measured by disk diffusion.
12, 13 
 The 
prepared culture plates were inoculated with different 
selected strains of bacteria and fungi using the streak plate 
method. Wells were made on the agar surface with 6mm 
cork borer. The extracts were poured into the well using 
sterile syringe. The plates were incubated at 37ºC+2ºC for 
24 hours for bacterial and 25+2ºC for 48 hours for fungal 
activity. The plates were observed for the zone clearance 
around the wells. 
The methanol extract was dissolved in sterile distilled 
water to form dilution such as 100µg, 150µg and 200µg. 
Each concentration of the plant extract was tested against 
different bacterial pathogens and fungal species. The zone 
of inhibition was calculated by measuring the diameter of 
the inhibition zone around the well (in mm) including the 
well diameter. 
Results  
The present study showed that fruit extract of Ficus 
racemosa Linn (methanol extract) exhibited both 
antimicrobial activity and antifungal activity against the 
tested microorganisms and fungi at the concentrations of 
100, 150 and 200µg/disc. The potential sensitivity of the 
extract was obtained and the zone of inhibition was 
recorded and presented below in the tabulation drawn in 
Table 1 (antimicrobial activity) and Table 2 (antifungal 
activity). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Journal of Scientific and Innovative Research  
 
 
448 
Table 1: In vitro Antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract of Ficus racemosa Linn. fruits 
Name of the Bacteria Zone of inhibition in mm 
Kanamycin  
(standard) 
 Ficus racemosa Linn. 
  
30µg/disc 100µg/disc  150µg/disc  200µg/disc  
Staphylococcus aureus 30 mm 12 15 18 
Bacillus subtilis 29 mm 11 13 16 
Vibrio cholera 25 mm 11 12 15 
Bacillus cereus 28 mm 12 14 16 
Salmonella typhi 30 mm 11 14 16 
Shigella dysenteriae 32 mm 13 15 17 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27 mm 12 14 17 
Klebsiella species 29 mm 12 14 16 
Proteus species 24 mm 11 13 15 
 
Table 2: In vitro Antifungal activity of the methanol extract of Ficus racemosa Linn. fruits 
 
Name of the Fungi 
Zone of the inhibition in mm 
Nystatin 
(Standard) 
 Ficus racemosa Linn 
  
30µg/disc 100µg/disc 150µg/disc 
Alternaria spp. 30mm 5 8.5 
Colletotrichum spp. 25mm 0 8 
Curvularia spp. 29mm 10 11 
Fusarium spp. 30mm 10 12 
 
Discussion 
At different concentrations (100, 150 and 200 µg/disc) of 
methanolic extracts showed sustained activity against all 
the tested bacterial strains and fungi. Though, the highest 
activity observed was against Staphylococcus aureus  at 
concentrations of 200 µg/disc  having 18  mm in diameter. 
However, The fruit extract of  Ficus racemosa showed a 
broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with a zone of 
inhibition of 11 to 18 mm. The activity observed of 
standard drug, Kanamycin was found higher than these 
active concentrations showing  24-30 mm in diameter 
against all the tested bacterial strains. Moreover, the 
extract was also active against fungal species. However, 
the extract showed maximum against Fusarium spp. fungal 
strains. The activity of methanolic extract was found 
lowest against Colletotrichum spp. having zone of 
inhibition 0 and 8 mm at concentrations of 150 and 200 
µg/disc respectively. 
The entire data suggested that the methanolic extract of 
Ficus racemosa fruits was active against all the microbes  
against which standard (Kanamycin and nystatin) was 
found to have maximum activity. Therefore, more studies 
need to be conducted to search for new compounds 
responsible for their antimicrobial activity. Our results 
revealed the importance of the F. racemosa aqueous as 
well as ethanolic extracts when associated with antibiotics, 
to control resistant bacteria, which are becoming a threat to 
human health. 
Journal of Scientific and Innovative Research  
 
 
449 
Conclusion 
From the observations made, the extract of  Ficus 
racemosa was found to show antimicrobial activity when 
compared to the standard drug. Results of antimicrobial 
assay showed that the methanol extract of the plant 
possesses inhibitory activity at all concentration tested 
against all bacterial strains and the fungal strain used for 
the experiment.  The results suggest that Ficus racemosa 
fruits are very promising as an antimicrobial agent with 
special reference to Staphylococcus aureus infections as 
three concentrations of methanol extract was active against 
this bacterial strain. This antimicrobial profile of Ficus 
racemosa fruits can be exploited for developing a novel 
antimicrobial agent of high potential. Plants are an 
important source of potentially useful structures for the 
development of new chemotherapeutic agents. 
Acknowledgment 
We express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Department 
of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, 
Bangladesh for providing laboratory facilities and 
necessary reagents support while doing the study.  
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In-vitro antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of Ficus racemosa Linn. fruits

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In-vitro antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of Ficus racemosa Linn. fruits

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