Evaluation of Gymnema sylvestre Antimicrobial Activity in Methanol

Abstract

G. sylvestre is a medicinal plant known for its sugar destroying property, as an anti-diabetic agent. The major phytoconstituents are the triterpenoid saponins, responsible for the various activities. The antimicrobial activity of this plant has been assessed in methanol as the solvent system for the extraction of active principles. The gram positive and gram negative organisms used in the study, have shown susceptibility towards the extracts, with the root extracts at acidic pH, showing higher activity. E. coli and E. cloacae were found to be the most sensitive and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the resistant type of microorganisms, based on the results obtained from the zones of inhibition. The broad spectrum activity of the plant can be utilised in the development of new antimicrobial drugs.