Antimicrobial activity of Ethyl Acetate Extracts of D. hamiltonii on Microbial Isolates of Spoiled Vegetables and Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of Decalepis hamiltonii was tested by disc diffusion method against microbial isolates from spoiled vegetables and pathogenic microorganisms. The crude aqueous extract, cold ethyl acetate extract, ethyl acetate distillate and residual extracts of the roots were used for the study. The crude extracts showed largest zones to LF₁ (isolate), AG (isolate), B (isolate), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, i.e., 8 mm zones. The cold ethyl acetate extract showed maximum activity against LF₂ (isolate), i.e., 24 mm. The distillate showed activity against P₂ (isolate) and B (isolate), i.e., 15 mm. The residual extract showed maximum activity against  Aspergillus flavus (27.5 mID), Salmonella typhimurium (27.5 mm), AG (isolate) (25.0 mID), LF₃ (isolate) (25.0 mm) indicating that the residual extracts were strongly inhibitory. The results indicate that the residual extracts can be used as broad spectrum antimicrobial agent.