Comparative Antimicrobial Activity of Pongamia pinnata Leaf Epicuticular and Intracuticular Lipid Extracts

The aim of the present study was to compare the anti microbial activity of leaf surface lipids and total lipids, extracted from the selected plant Pongamia pinnata which was used in ancient days for the treatment of so many skin diseases. Surface lipids also called as cuticular waxes, of the selected plant were extracted using chloroform. Cuticular waxes form a covering layer on the plant parts and give protection from various pests and pathogens. The total lipids of the leaves were extracted using chloroform and methanol in 1:2 ratios. The crude extracts of surface and total lipids were tested against bacterial and fungal strains using paper disc method and broth dilution method. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sphearicus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Escheritia coli, Pseudomonas aerogenosa, Klebsella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, Candida rugosa, Sacharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus were the 12 microbial strains used for the in vitro antimicrobial study. Surface lipids showed activity on all microbial strains except E.coli and B.subtilis where as total lipid extract showed less activity in only three microbial strains. In case of antifungal activity, surface lipids were active on all fungal strains, total lipids showed less activity. This study supports the selected plant showed encouraging results, as it found to contain substances that had antimicrobial activity because of, the surface lipids of Pongamia pinnata were active against 10 out of 12 microbial strains when compared with the total lipids.