Antibacterial evaluation of Cyperus rotundus Linn. root extracts against respiratory tract pathogens

Abstract

Background: Cyperus rotundus has a long history of medicinal use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM) including antipyretic, digestive system disorders, dysmenorrhoea and other maladies.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate antibacterial properties of C. rotundus root extracts against three gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria causing respiratory tract infections.

Methodology: Dried plant materials were crushed and extracted in petroleum ether, acetone, methanol and aqueous by using Soxhlet apparatus. The agar well diffusion method was adopted to examine antibacterial activity of extracts against test organisms. Phytochemical analysis was also done for the plant extracts.

Results: Results showed that methanol extract was most active as comparison to other extract. The maximum inhibition was found against H. influenzae (18.4±0.07 mm) followed by S. pyogenes (17.3±0.13mm), P. aeruginosa (16.2±0.07 mm) and S. pneumoniae (15.5±0.15 mm) and minimum against S. aureus (15.3±0.05 mm) respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, saponins and tannins in plant extracts.

Conclusion: The results signify traditional values of C. rotundus in treatment of respiratory diseases which might be accountable for its antimicrobial potential.

Key words: Antibacterial activity, agar well diffusion method, Cyperus rotundus, respiratory diseases