Antibacterial Activity of Certain Ferns Against Multi Drug Resistant Organisms

Antibacterial activity of frond extracts of three ethno medicinal important ferns viz. Angiopteris helferiana C. Presl, Cyathea brunoniana (Wall. ex Hook.) C.B. Clarke & Baker and Pronephrium nudatum (Roxb. ex Griff) Holttum was assayed by well diffusion method against multi drug resistant organisms i.e., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The result revealed that the ethyl acetate frond extract of Cyathea brunoniana, Pronephriumnudatum were active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus while that of Angiopteris helferiana was active against only Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). The minimum inhibitory concentration of crude ethyl acetate frond extract of Cyathea brunoniana, Pronephriumnudatum was found to be 400 mg/ml against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The synergistic activity of the crude extract with the antibiotics showed that the antibacterial activity of the antibiotics increased in synergy with crude extract of Cyathea brunoniana and Pronephriumnudatum respectively. Thereby, the results indicated the possibility of using the fern extract of Cyathea brunoniana and Pronephriumnudatum as a future treatment option against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.