Antimicrobial activities of With aniasomnifera Crude extract

Withaniasomnifera (L) is popularly known as ‘Aswagandha’ has been an important herb in India and some Mediterranean countries . To evaluate thisplant, the leaveswere subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis and in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella paratyphiB. Acetone extract demonstrated highest antibacterial activity followed by ethanol extract. Aqueous extract showed minimal antibacterial activity against most of the test bacterial pathogens. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presenceof carbohydrates, glycosides, alkaloids, phytosterols, fixed oils, phenolic compounds and flavonoids in extracts. Our findings suggest that an appropriate bioactive compound may be developed from leaves of Withaniasomnifera(L.) as an alternate to antibiotics.