Antibacterial Activity of Croton bonplandianum (Bail.) Against Some Bacterial Isolates from Infected Wounds

Aims: The antibacterial activity of medicinal plants against human pathogens has been evaluated by a number of studies. However, a few research works have been done on pus cell pathogens. So this research work was aimed to determine the antibacterial effect of Croton bonplandianum against bacterial isolates from pus cells causing wound infections and to compare the antibacterial effect of various solvent extracts of different parts of Croton bonplandianum with streptomycin against the isolated bacterial pathogens from wounds.
Study Design: In vitro assay of antibacterial activity
Place and Duration of Study: Post Graduate and Research Department of Biochemistry at Government Arts College (Autonomous), Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India, between January to June, 2011.
Methodology: The isolated bacterial pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli were used for the evaluation of antibacterial activity of C. bonplandianum by well diffusion method.
Results: The fresh latex showed highest inhibitory activity against E. coli (32 mm) and E. faecalis (30 mm) followed by aqueous and ethanol extracts of latex showed highest inhibitory activity against E. aerogenes (26 mm) than other solvent extracts. The ethanol and benzene extracts of leaf showed highest inhibitory activity against S. aureus (20 mm). The chloroform extract of fruits showed maximum inhibitory activity against E. coli (21 mm) when compared to other solvent extracts. The latex extracts of C. bonplandianum showed better results as compared to leaf and fruit extracts.
Conclusion: The results of present study supports that the traditional use of C. bonplandianum as antimicrobial agent in wound infections.