Antibacterial activity of Hybanthus enneaspermus against selected urinary tract pathogens

Hybanthus enneaspermus Muell, belonging to family Violaceae, was investigated to evaluate in vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanolic, petroleum ether and chloroform extracts against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus . The major urinary tract infection causing pathogens were tested by disc diffusion assay method, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was evaluated. Ethanol (95%) extract exhibited significant and broader spectrum of inhibition in comparison to aqueous, which showed moderate effect; chloroform and petroleum ether extract showed feeble activity at concentration of 300 mg/disc. An attempt has been made to compare the activity of extracts with standard antibiotics against selected urinary tract pathogens.