title: Report: Antibacterial and antifungal activities of leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) from Pakistan.
abstract: Alcoholic extract and various fractions of Achyranthes aspera leaves, traditionally used in Pakistan for treatment of infectious diseases was screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity. The chloroform and butanol fractions were found to be the most active among the fractions, showing considerable antibacterial activity against Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli. The highest activity was found in the ethylacetate fraction (17 mm zone of inhibition) against gram-negative (Salmonella typhi) bacteria, with MIC value as 0.29 mg/mL. In antifungal screening, moderate activity was shown by the chloroform fraction (50 % inhibition) against Microsporum canis, with MIC value as 0.25mg/mL. Considerable level of antifungal activity was depicted by crude extract, hexane and butanol fractions against Aspergillus flavus and Microsporum canis. The ability of various extracts of Achyranthes aspera to inhibit different strains of fungi and bacteria indicates its potential use for the treatment of microbial infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fazli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ayub
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.lastname: Zakiullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Waheed Ali
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Swabi, Swabi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Swabi, Swabi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Lateef
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abuzar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Swabi, Swabi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D029044:Achyranthes; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010154:Pakistan; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts