Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Volatile Oil and Crude Alkaloids Extracted from Murraya koenigii (Rutaceae)

Over the past few decades, many commonly used antibiotics have become less effective against certain illnesses because many of them produce toxic reactions and drug-resistant. It is essential to investigate new drugs with less resistance and less side effects. Drugs derived from natural sources are cheaper, safe and play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of many human diseases. Thus the present study focus on comparative evaluation of antibacterial activity of volatile oil and crude alkaloids extracted from leaves of Murraya koenigii (Family: Rutaceae) by agar cup method. Volatile oil and crude alkaloids of M. koenigii, both showed dose dependent antibacterial activity against gram positive bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and gram negative bacterial strains Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris. Volatile oil (1%v/v) showed comparable antibacterial activity to the standard drug streptomycin (10mcg/ml) against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Volatile oil (10%v/v) showed significant antibacterial activity to the standard drug streptomycin (10 mcg/ml) against Proteus vulgaris. Crude alkaloids (50 mcg/ml) showed comparable antibacterial activity to the standard drug streptomycin (10 mcg/ml) against Bacillus subtilis. This study reveals that volatile oil have more antibacterial potential compare to alkaloids of M. koenigii leaves. Thus the present study will help to find out active phytoconstituents as well as helps to develop a potent antibacterial herbal formulation using the M. koenigii.