Abstract:
Enicostemma littorale is a glabrous perennial herb belonging to the family
Gentianaceae. The whole plant is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various
diseases. The decoction is used to treat skin diseases such as kiranthi, itching and scabies.
Phytochemical screening was carried out to identify the active functional groups of E.
littorale plant which revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, flavonoids,
glycosides and triterpenoids. Antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of the whole plant
of E. littorale on eight bacterial isolates was investigated. They were Staphylococcus aureus
– NCTC 6571, Escherichia coli – NCTC -10418, Pseudomonas aeruginosa – NCTC – 10662
and five wild strains of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Antibacterial
activity was performed by the cut well diffusion and agar dilution methods. The aqueous
extract of E. littorale showed growth inhibitory action against S. aureus (NCTC 6571 and 5
MRSA strains). Growth inhibitory action against E. coli and P aeruginosa could not be
demonstrated using the agar dilution method, although inhibition of E. coli was shown using
the cut well method. Further exploration of activity of the aqueous extract against a wider
range of skin pathogens would be helpful. The ability of the aqueous extract of E. littorale to
inhibit the growth of bacteria is an indication of its antibacterial potential which may be
employed in the management of bacterial infections.
