ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study of the antimicrobial effect of the ethanolic and aqueous extract of sida acuta was investigated, using the test organisms staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and candida albicans. The phytochemicals analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids. The plant extract had a good antimicrobial activity against the test micro organisms. In the agar well diffusion assay, the zone of inhibition of the extracts recorded increased with increase in concentration, where the highest concentration of the ethanolic extract revealed a higher significant inhibition, compared to the inhibition effect by ciprofloxacin used as a drug control. The different concentrations of the ethanolic and aqueous extraction were subjected to antibacterial screening against various Gram positive, Gram negative and fungi bacterial and the results were compared with that of standard drug .The aqueous extracts had no significant inhibitory effect on the test organisms. At varying concentrations of the ethanolic extract of test plant, it was observed that E.coli at various concentrations of 50mg/ml, I 00mg/ml, I 50mg/ml and 200mg/ml has the highest zone of inhibition of 3 .42mm, 5.43mm, 8.45mm, I 0.58mm respectively, validating the use of sida acuta as a strong anti microbial agent for E.coli.