Antimycobacterial and Antimicrobial Activity of Leaf Extracts of Vitex negundo Linn

Vitex negundo belonging to the family verbanaceae has been reported to posses many medicinal properties according to indigenous system of medicine. The present work deals with antimycobacterial and antimicrobial activity of vitex negundo leaves. The different solvent extracts of the leaves prepared were studied for their antimycobacterial activity by Conventional proportion method and Nitrate reductase assay method. The activity was compared with standard drugs rifampicin and isoniazid. The ethanolic, successive ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed highest antitubercular activity, while petroleum ether extract and chloroform extract was moderately active as compared to other extracts of Nirgundi. Aqueous, benzene, acetone extract does not shows any antitubercular activity Antimicrobial activity of all extracts was screened by Paper Disc method against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The benzene extract showed significant antimicrobial activity compared to petroleum ether and chloroform extract. Preliminary phytochemicals of all extracts were also investigated.

Conclusion: In conclusion nitrate reductase assay was found to be rapid, inexpensive and easy to perform. It also showed good concordance between conventional proportion method and nitrate reductase assay.

All these findings justified the claim made in the indigenous system of medicine for the use of the plant vitex negundo against tuberculosis and many other micro-organisms.