Antibacterial evaluation of three widespread weeds Mazus japonicus, Fumaria indica and Vicia faba from Pakistan

Abstract

Present study was carried out to explore the antibacterial potential of three weeds Mazus japonicus, Fumaria indica and Vicia sativa grown widely in Pakistan. Different extracts (aqueous, methanolic and petroleum ether) of the respective weeds were prepared and tested against nine bacterial strains using agar well diffusion assay. Bacterial strains included both gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus megaterium, Enterococcus faecium, Enterrococcus faecalis and Enteroccocus sp) and gram negative (Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli top10) bacteria. Ten different concentrations of each extracts were used. Enterococcus faecalis JH22 and Bacillus megaterium MB141 were the most resistant bacteria while Escherichia coli top10 was found highly susceptible and inhibited by all three extracts of Mazus japonicas and Fumaria indica. Vicia sativa was effective only against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas putida at limited crude extract concentration while all other strains showed resistance against different extracts of the respective plant. Amongst the plant extracts screened for antibacterial activity, methanolic extracts showed best antibacterial activity whereas aqueous and petroleum ether were found least active. This study significantly supports the usage of these widespread weeds as traditional medicines for various bacterial infections.