title: Antimicrobial activities of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) extracts.
abstract: The methanol extract of the rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) and its subsequent fractions in different solvent systems were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Excellent antifungal sensitivity was expressed by the n-butanol fraction against Candida albicans and Candida glaberata (up to 90%) and against Trichophyton longifusus (78%) followed by the chloroform fraction against Microsporum canis (80%). In the antibacterial bioassay, the crude extract and subsequent fractions showed mild to moderate antibacterial activities. Chloroform fraction displayed highest antibacterial sensitivity against Staphylococcus aureous (88%) followed by the crude extract (59%). The total phenol content of the crude extract and fractions of the plant expressed no significant correlation with the antimicrobial activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Haroon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Murad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Tahira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.forename: Muhammad Iqbal
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Choudhary
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts