BACTERICIDAL ACTION OF CRUDE LEAF EXTRACTS OF COMMON WEEDS

Leaf compounds extracted from Oxalis corniculata, Chenopodium album, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus viridis and Convolvulus arvensis were evaluated for their potential against phytopathogenic bacteria namely; Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas syringae, Morganella morganii, Acinetobacter baumannii and Xylophilus sp. Aqueous, methanol and ethanol soluble fractions from the leaves of selected weeds were extracted and employed against bacterial strains using well diffusion method. Results indicated that aqueous crude extracts of all test plants were least effective against bacteria as compared to both organic solvent extracts. In case of methanol, maximum zone of inhibition (42 mm) was recorded against P. syringae by O. corniculata leaf extract followed by S. nigrum leaf extract that restricted the growth of X. campestris in 40 mm diameter around the well. By ethanol crude extract, best results were obtained from A. viridis leaves extracts that produced inhibition zone of 44 mm diameter against Xylophilus sp. growth around well. C. album leaves extract that did not allow P. syringae to grow more than 40 mm diameter around the well. Present study suggested the need of phytochemical profiling of antibacterial compounds in the crude extracts of selected weeds.