Evaluation of anti-infective potential of fruits of common mangrove tree Sonneratia apetala against some selected pathogenic fungi and bacteria

Abstract

The present investigations mainly focused to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous and acetone extract of fruits of the mangroves plants Sonneratia apetala against six pathogen (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans) using disc diffusion method. The aqueous extracts are more effective rather acetone and the aqueous extract(s) of fruit were found to higher antifungal activity than bacteria. Result showed that aqueous extract has maximum activity against A. flavus and C.albicans as 25mm, 17mm respectively. The aqueous extract (s) was found to inhibit the isolates of A. flavus and C.albicans at an MIC of 1.75 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml, respectively. But, antibiotics fluconazole found to possess the MIC value 0.75 mg/ml against C. albicans and 2.0 mg/ml against A. flavus. Therefore, the results suggested that these plants could be exploited in the management of various infectious diseases and their fruit extracts might have roles as pharmaceuticals and preservatives. Phytochemical analysis of fruit extract revealed the presence of carbohydrate, protein, flavonoid and phenolic compounds.