Kadbhane Ashwini S., Dahikar Samadhan B., Girase Manisha S., Bhutada Sarita A., Rayate Prerna S., Saundankar Sunil S. and Dr. Kale Avinash S.
Abstract
This study investigated the antibacterial activity of two medicinal plants, Tridax procumbens and Lantana camara, both of which are common weeds found in cultivated areas and wastelands and hold significant importance in traditional Indian medicine. These plants are known to be rich in a wide range of secondary metabolites, including tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, phenols, steroids, anthocyanins, proteins, and carbohydrates. The secondary metabolites were extracted using the Soxhlet extraction method with ethanol as the solvent. Phytochemical screening was performed following standard protocols. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extracts was assessed using the well diffusion method. The antibacterial efficacy of the extracts was evaluated against five clinically significant bacterial pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus species, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Results showed that the combined ethanolic extracts of both plant leaves exhibited greater antibacterial activity compared to the individual extracts, highlighting a potential synergistic effect. These findings support the traditional use of these plants in treating bacterial infections and suggest their potential for the development into plant-based antimicrobial agents.