Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial potential of different extracts of Cuscuta reflexa growing on Acacia arabica and Zizyphus jujuba

C. reflexa Roxb. (Cuscutaceae or Convolvulaceae) is a golden yellow leafless plant commonly known as amarbel, akashbel, swaranlata, devils guts, hair weed and love-wine. The methanol extracts of C. reflexa is implicated as an antimicrobial. Plant extracts of C. reflexa growing on different sources (Acacia arabica and Zizyphus jujube) were prepared using aqueous and various organic solvents viz. benzene, acetone, ethanol and methanol. Agar well diffusion technique was used to assess the antimicrobial potential of plant from different sources against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus & Staphylococcus epidermidis), gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli & Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungus (Aspergillus niger). The diameter of zone of inhibition was taken as an indicator of antimicrobial effect. The present study showed a strong inhibitory effect of ethanol and methanol extracts of C. reflexa (jujuba and arabica) on most of the gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The aqueous extract of C.reflexa (arabica) failed to show any antimicrobial activity while C. reflexa (jujuba) showed very little effect. Thus C.reflexa growing on Zizyphus jujuba could be considered as a potential source of natural antimicrobials.