Beta Asarone - an Anti-microbial Compound from Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus Linn.)

Acorus calamus commonly known as Sweet flag is a medicinal herb, effectively used in treating variety of illness. The chemicals were fractionated from rhizome of Acorus calamus and antimicrobial properties of Hydrocarbon and Beta asarone were studied. Acorus calamus were collected from Nilgiri wetland areas. The components of rhizome of Acrous calamus were separated using column chromatography. Hydrocarbon and Beta asarone parts were eluted from the column and tested for its antimicrobial assay. Antibacterial activity of fractionated beta asarone inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi and Listeria monocytogenes. There is no antibacterial activity in fractionated hydrocarbon. The determination of antimicrobial activity of Acorus calamus reveals that beta asarone is responsible for antimicrobial activity and this can be used in future for preparation of drugs.