481-484Crotalaria burhia Buch.-Ham. (Family- Fabaceae) is used traditionally in the
treatment of eczema. Petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts
of root were screened
for antimicrobial activity against different strains of bacteria and fungi. The
tests were carried out using agar disc diffusion method at four different
concentrations of the crude extracts. All the extracts inhibited the growth of
both Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus,
Micrococcus luteus) and Gram negative
bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella
typhimurium). The Gram
positive bacteria appeared to be more susceptible to the extracts than the Gram
negative bacteria. Methanol extract at the concentration ranging between 250 µg/ml
and 1000 µg/ml showed inhibitory activity against all bacteria while petroleum
ether and chloroform extract showed moderate antimicrobial activity. Aqueous
extract was found neutral against all bacteria. The extracts also showed
significant antifungal activity against A. niger and C. albicans.
All the microorganisms showed dose dependent susceptibility towards the
extracts used in the study. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the
extracts and standard drugs were statistically significant. The results
indicate the potential of C. burhia
root in treating microbial infections, thus, justifying their traditional use
in the treatment of eczema, which are of infectious origin