Abrus Precatorius L. Seed Extracts Antimicrobial

International Journal of PharmTech Research
CODEN (USA): IJPRIF ISSN : 0974-4304

Vol.1, No.4, pp 1115-1118, Oct-Dec 2009
ABRUS PRECATORIUS L. SEED EXTRACTS ANTIMICROBIAL

PROPERTIES AGAINST CLINICALLY IMPORTANT BACTERIA
Varaprasad Bobbarala1* and Varahalarao Vadlapudi2
1
For U Biosciences, A/4A, Park lane Residency, East point colony, Visakhapatnam-17.
2
Department of Botany, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-3, Andhrapradesh, India
*Corres. author: [email protected]
ABSTRACT : In vitro antibacterial activities of hexane, chloroform and methanolic crude extracts of Abrus precatorius seeds
were tested against ten clinical isolates using the agar well diffusion technique. Hexane, chloroform and methanolic extracts
were obtained using the soxhlet extractor on A. precatorius seeds. To measure the MIC values, various concentrations of the
stock, 500, 250, 100, 75, 50, 35, 25 and 12microg/ml were assayed against the test bacteria. At the different concentrations of
the extracts used (500microg/ml-4microg/ml), Enterococcus faecalis was the most resistant organism. Methanolic seed
extracts were potent when compared with hexane and chloroform extracts. This study demonstrates that A. precatorius
particularly the seed methanolic extracts has a potent antimicrobial activity. The results supported the ethno botanical use of
seed parts of A. precatorius for the treatment of various bacteria-related diseases.
Key Words: Medicinal plants, Abrus precatorius, Methanol extract, Antibacterial activity, Well diffusion assay.
INTRODUCTION although only 1% have gained recognition by modern

The medicinal plants are the plants whose parts scientists6.
(leaves, seeds, stem, roots, fruits, foliage etc.) extracts, Antibiotics provide the main basis for the
infusions, decoctions, powders are used in the treatment therapy of bacterial infections. Since the discovery of
of different diseases of humans, plants and animals1. these antibiotics and their uses as chemotherapeutic
Plant extracts are highly efficient against microbial agents there was a belief in the medical fraternity that this
infections. It is estimated that around 70,000 plant would lead to the eventual eradication of infectious
species, from lichens to tall trees, have been used at one diseases. However, over use of antibiotics has become
time to other for medicinal purposes2. The use of the major factor for the emergence and dissemination of
different parts of several medicinal plants to cure specific multi-drug resistant strains of several groups of
ailments has been in vogue from ancient times. The microorganisms7 bacteria have the genetic ability to
indigenous system of medicine namely Ayurvedic, transmit and acquire resistance worldwide emergence of
Siddha and Unani have been in existence for several Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus
centuries. This system of medicine caters to the needs of and many other ß-lactamase producers has become a
nearly 70% of the population residing in villages. Besides major therapeutic problem. Multi-drug resistant strains of
the demands made by these systems as their raw material, E. coli and K. pneumoniae are widely distributed in
the demands for medicinal plants made by the modern hospitals and are increasingly being isolated from
pharmaceutical industries has also increased manifold3, 4. community acquired infections8, 9.
Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary Abrus precatorius is belongs to family fabaceae.
metabolites such as tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids, It grows in tropical climates such as India, Sri Lanka,
which have been found in vitro to have antimicrobial Thailand, the Philippine Islands, South China, tropica
properties5. For thousands of years, natural products have Africa and the West Indies. It also grows in all tropical
been used in traditional medicine all over the world and or subtropical areas. The most poisonous part of the plant
predate the introduction of antibiotics and other modern is the seed. The seed contains the toxic poison abrin
drugs. The antimicrobial efficacy tribute to some plants which is close relative to ricin. Ingested seeds can affect
in treating diseases has been beyond belief. It is estimated the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, spleen, kidney, and the
that local communities have used about 10% of all lymphatic system. Infusion of seed extracts can cause
flowering plants on Earth to treat various infections, eye damage after contact. The most poisonous parts of
Varaprasad Bobbarala et al /Int.J. PharmTech Res.2009,1(4) 1116
the plant involved in poisoning are the small, scarlet setting a number 3-cup borer (6mm) diameter was
seeds that have a black eye at the hilum. The roots, stems, properly sterilized by flaming and used to make three to
and leaves also contain glycyrrhizin10. The seeds were five uniform cups/wells in each petridish. A drop of
also used to treat diabetes and chronic nephritis. The molten agar was used to seal the base of each cup. The
plant is also used in some traditional medicine to treat cups/wells were filled with 50μl of the different extracts
scratches and sores, and wounds caused by dogs, cats and of 100mg/ml and allow diffusing for 45minutes. The
mice and are also used with other ingredients to treat solvents used for reconstituting the extracts were
leucoderma. They are ground with lime and applied on similarly analyzed. The plates were incubated at 37°c for
acne sores, boils, and abscesses. The plant is also 24hours.
traditionally used to treat tetanus, and to prevent rabies. The standard antibiotic drugs was used at
Various African tribes use powdered seeds as oral different concentrations to get MIC (Minimum inhibitory
contraceptives11 Boiled seeds of A. precatorius are eaten concentrations) the antibiotic drug used were
in certain parts of India12. The objective of this research Streptomycin. The zones of inhibition were measured
was to evaluate the potentiality of A. precatorius on with antibiotic zone scale in mm and the experiment was
standard microorganism strain and clinically important carried out in triplicates
bacteria.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
MATERIALS AND METHODS The antibacterial activity of A. precatorius seed
Abrus precatorius seeds were purchased from extracts was assayed in vitro by agar well diffusion
local herbal vendor of Visakhapatnam Dist, Andhra method against ten bacterial species. Graph 1 and 2
Pradesh, India. The seeds were dried under shade with summarizes the microbial growth inhibition of methanol
occasional shifting and then powdered with a mechanical extracts of the screened bacterial species. Methanol
grinder and stored in an airtight container. The powder extracts exhibited antibacterial activity towards almost all
obtained was subjected to successive soxhlet extraction the bacterial microorganisms. The hexane and chloroform
with the organic solvents with increasing order of extracts of three plants showed less or no antibacterial
polarity respectively. activity. On the other hand, the methanolic crude extracts
The antibacterial activity of the A. precatorius showed maximum antibacterial activity on Klebsilla
extracts was assessed against microbial strains of clinical, pneumonia, followed by Staphylococcus aureus,
aquatic origin i.e. Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia Streptococcus mitis and Micrococus luteus, respectively.
coli, Micrococus luteus, Lactobacillus fermentum, The studied plants were most active against all the
Klebsilla pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria tested. The significant antibacterial activity of
Streptococcus thermophilus, Streptococcus mitis, the active plant extracts was comparable to the standard
Streptococcus mutans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibiotic Streptomycin (10µg/disc).
bacteria were used as test organisms. The strains are The variation of susceptibility of the tested
maintained and tested on Nutrient Agar (NA) for microorganisms could be attributed to their intrinsic
bacteria. Active cultures were generated by inoculating a properties that are related to the permeability of their cell
loop full of culture in separate 100mL nutrient broths and surface to the extracts. Due to the emergence of antibiotic
o
incubating on a shaker at 37 C overnight. The cells were resistant pathogens in hospitals and homes, plants are
harvested by centrifuging at 4000 rpm for 5 min, washed being looked upon as an excellent alternate to combat the
with normal saline, spun at 4000 rpm for 5min again and further spread of multidrug resistant microorganisms
5 The present results therefore offer a scientific
diluted in normal saline to obtain 5 x 10 cfu/mL. basis for traditional use of solvent extracts of the
The antimicrobial activity of the hexane, solvent extracts of Abrus precatorius could be a possible
chloroform, methanol and water extracts of each sample source to obtain new and effective herbal medicines to
was evaluated by using well-diffusion method or cup treat infections caused by multi-drug resistant strains of
plate method of Murray13 modified by Olurinola14. 20 ml microorganisms. However, it is necessary to determine
of nutrient agar was dispensed into sterile universal the toxicity of the active constituents, their side effects
bottles these were then inoculated with 0.2 ml of cultures and pharmaco-kinetic properties.
mixed gently and poured into sterile petridishes. After
0 to 18 Zone of inhibition in mm; Volume per well: 50µl, Borer size used: 6mm.
0 to 100 Zone of inhibition in mm; Extract concentration in mg/ml;

Volume per well 50µl, Borer size used: 6mm.
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International Journal of PharmTech Research

CODEN (USA): IJPRIF ISSN : 0974-4304

ABRUS PRECATORIUS L. SEED EXTRACTS ANTIMICROBIAL

*Corres. author: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION although only 1% have gained recognition by modern

0 to 100 Zone of inhibition in mm; Extract concentration in mg/ml;

REFERENCES 5. Lewis K. and Ausubel F.M., Prospects of plant

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