Abstract:
There is a worldwide interest in searching for the safe and effective novel antibacterial compounds of
plant origin for the control of plant pathogenic bacteria which is responsible for the great impact on the
growth and productivity of agriculture crops. In this study an attempt was made to determine the in vitro
antibacterial activity of sequentially extracted different solvent (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol,
methanol and water) extracts of leaf, flower and fruit of Vitex negundo L. and bulb of Allium sativum L.
(Garlic) against phytopathogens namely Pseudomonas solanacearum and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
citri. The preliminary antibacterial activity was performed by agar well diffusion method and the
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined by agar dilution method. The test
samples were also subjected to qualitative phytochemical analysis. One way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) followed by least significant difference (LSD) test were done for the statistical analysis of the
data. All the test samples showed inhibitory effect on both of the test pathogens and the diameter of
inhibition zone ranged from 9.9 ± 0.5 mm to 48.5 ± 1.3 mm and the inhibitory effect differed significantly
(P<0.05) among the samples. Ethyl acetate extract of flower of Vitex negundo L. showed significantly
(P<0.05) higher inhibition on Pseudomonas solanacearum and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri. The
MIC values of ethyl acetate extracts of fruit and flower of Vitex negundo L. and Allium sativum and
ethanol extract of flower of Vitex negundo L. ranged from 2.5 mg / ml to 40 mg / ml. Phytochemical
analysis of above extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and
terpenoids. Further studies are being carried out to elucidate the active principles responsible for the
inhibitory effect of these pathogens and to determine their activity in vivo. This is the first report that
reveals the inhibitory effect of Vitex negundo L. on Pseudomonas solanacearum and Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. citri.
