Abstract
Antimicrobial Potential of Ethnomedicinal Ferns of Southern Assam, India
Department of Botany and Biotechnology, 1Department of Chemistry, Karimganj College, Karimganj-788 710, India
Correspondence Address:
Department of Botany and Biotechnology, Karimganj College, Karimganj-788 710, India, E-mail: kathakalinath@gmail.com
Since ancient times traditional herbal medicines has been the basis of treatment for many ailments. Extracts of medicinal plants are rich source of unique phytochemicals. In the present study extract of 12 pteridophytes collected from Southern Assam were studied for antibacterial activities. The frond extract of these species was tested against five non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris. The results obtained indicated that 6 ferns exhibited antibacterial activity against one or more organisms while the remaining 6 ferns did not show any antibacterial activity. The ferns showing antibacterial activity were Christella parasitica, Microlepia speluncae, Pteris multifida, Microsorum pteropus, Adiantum caudatum, Pteris vittata.
