Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol 3 / Issue 1 / 2013 / 15-17.

e - ISSN - 2249-7722
Print ISSN - 2249-7730

International Journal of Phytotherapy

www.phytotherapyjournal.com

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF FLOWERS OF

IXORA PAVETTA ANDR
K. Srinivas1 and R.V. Celestin Baboo*2
1

Department of Pharmacognosy, Sri Vasavi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Pedatadepalli, Tadepalligudem, West Godawari, Andhra Pradesh, India.
*2Department of Pharmacognosy, A.M.Reddy Memorial College of Pharmacy,
Narasaraopet, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.

ABSTRACT
The anti-bacterial and antifungal activities of ethanolic extract of flowers of Ixora pavetta was studied by agar
cup plate method using Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus of gram positive; Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa of gram negative; and Aspergilus niger of antifungal strains. Ampicillin and Flucanazole were used as
reference standard for bacteria and fungi organisms respectively. The results suggest that, the ethanolic extract possess
significant antimicrobial activity when compared with the standard.
Key words: Anti-bacterial, Antifungal and Ixora pavetta.

INTRODUCTION
Ixora pavetta Andr. is a small tree or evergreen
shrub, belonging to the family Rubiaceae. It is commonly
found in deciduous slopes and hills of 300-900 meters in
India, Srilanka and Bangladesh. Flowering and fruiting
takes place throughout the year [1]. The flowers are
white, pleasant, agreeable and aromatic odour bitter in
taste. The petals occupy 2-3 cm in diameter, calyx
truncate; 4 toothed. Corolla tubular; lobes 4, obtuse,
stamens 4; anthers basally tailed. The bark is curved grey
brown to dark brown in colour, having no odour, slightly
bitter in taste; about 8cm long, 4.5cm wide and 1-2mm
thickness. The leaves are simple, oblong, elliptic,
oblanceolate, obtuse-acute symmetrical base; entire
margin opposite decussate arrangement, simple type.
Upper surface of leaf is dark green and lower surface is
light green in colour, agreeable and characteristic odour,
slightly bitter in taste; about 10-15 cm long and 3-5 cm
wide. The wood is cylindrical, smooth; cream to brown in
colour, having characteristic and bitter taste; 4-8cm
diameter. The fruits are globose, 2 seeded, somewhat

didymous, dark purple in colour, about 5-6mm diameter

having disagreeable odour and taste. The seeds are
oblong, brown in colour, having bitter and disagreeable
taste; about: 4mm long and 2mm wide [2, 3].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collection and Identification of plant material
The flowers of Ixora pavetta Andr, were
collected during February 2010 from the coastal regions
of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. The specimen of
the plant material was identified and authenticated by
Mr.V.Chelladurai, Research officer-Botany, Central
Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha
(Government of India), Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
Preparation of the extract
The flowers of Ixora pavetta Andr. were dried
under shade and powdered into coarse state. The coarse
powder was extracted with ethanol using cold percolation
method [4]. The extract obtained was used to determine
for its anti bacterial and antifungal activities.

Corresponding Author:- R.V. Celestin baboo Email: celestinbaboo@gmail.com

~ 15 ~

Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol 3 / Issue 1 / 2013 / 15-17.

Anti-bacterial activity
In vitro antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract
of flowers of Ixora pavetta was evaluated against four
strains of microorganisms namely Bacillus subtilis,
Staphylococcus aureus of gram positive; Escherichia coli
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa of gram negative by agar
cup plate method using nutrient agar medium and nutrient
broth. Ampicillin was used as reference standard.
All the micro organisms were inoculated in the
media and incubated at 37oC for four hours. It produces a
turbid solution and then it was diluted with same media
and compared with the standard. This level was
equivalent to 3x108 CFU/ml.
The nutrient agar media was prepared,
transferred to sterile petri dishes and allowed to solidify.
A suspension of inoculum was added to media and swabs
the entire surface of agar media. The inoculum was
equally distributed in surface of the media by rotating the
plate. The inoculated nutrient agar from each plate was
punched with flame sterilized cork borer of size 5 mm
diameter to get four cups. The extract of different
concentrations and standard were dissolved by DMSO
and placed in each well separately under aseptic
condition. Left the plates for one hour at room
temperature as a period of pre-incubation diffusion to
minimize the effects of variation in time between the
applications of the different solutions. Then the plates
were incubated at 37oc for 18 hours and observed for
antibacterial activity. The diameters of the zones of

inhibition was observed and measured. The average area

of zone of inhibition was calculated and compared with
that of the standard [5, 6].
In vitro antifungal screening
Evaluation of the Anti-fungal activity of
ethanolic extract of flowers of Ixora pavetta was tested by
agar cup plate method. The fungi employed for screenings
was Aspergilus niger. Sabourauds dextrose agar-agar and
Sabourauds dextrose broth were used as a medium.
Flucanazole was used as reference standard drug. The
stock solution of the reference standard (Flucanazole) and
test (extract) were prepared by dissolving in DMSO to
obtain required concentrations. The Sabourauds dextrose-agar medium was sterilized by autoclaving at
121C (15 lb/sq.inch) for 15 min. The Petri-plates, tubes
and flasks plugged with cotton plugs were sterilized in hot
air-oven at 150C, for an hour. Transfer aseptically,
molten Sabourauds dextrose-agar medium into each
sterilized petri-plate. Inoculate with fungus, after
solidification of the medium at room temperature. The
plates were punched with flame sterilized cork borer of
size 5 mm diameter to get four cups. The extract of
different concentrations and standard were placed in each
well separately under aseptic condition. The plates were
incubated at 30-350C for 48 hours [7]. After incubation
the diameter of zone of inhibition was measured and
tabulated.

Table 1. Zone of inhibition of ethanolic extract of flowers of Ixora pavetta against Gram positive Bacteria
Zone of inhibition(mm)
S.No
Drug treatment
Concentration
Bacillus subtilis
Staphylococcus aureus
1
Ixorapavetta
3mg/well
7.30.51
7.60.516
2
Ixorapavetta
5mg/well
12.660.58
15.660.52
3
Ampicillin
0.2 mg/well
23.330.5
28.51.87
Table 2. Zone of inhibition of ethanolic extract of flowers of Ixora pavetta against Gram negative Bacteria
Zone of inhibition(mm)
S.No
Drug treatment
Concentration
Escherichia coli
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
1
Ixorapavetta
3mg/well
7.81.07
7.50.11
2
Ixorapavetta
5mg/well
16.830.9
18.160.752
3
Ampicillin
0.2 mg/well
27.20.98
28.660.816
Table 3. Zone of inhibition of ethanolic extract of Ixora pavetta against Aspergilus niger Fungi
Zone of inhibition(mm)
S.No
Drug treatment
Concentration
Aspergilus niger
1
Ixorapavetta
3mg/well
8.8 0.576
2
Ixorapavetta
5mg/well
18.830.75
3
Flucanazole
0.2 mg/well
29.330.82
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of antibacterial screening of flowers
of Ixora pavetta against Gram positive and Gram negative
Bacteria were presented in Table 1 and 2. Preliminary

antifungal screenings of ethanolic extract of flowers of

Ixora pavetta against fungi have been displayed in Table
3. It was observed that, the extract showed prominent anti

~ 16 ~

Inter. J. of Phytotherapy / Vol 3 / Issue 1 / 2013 / 15-17.

bacterial and antifungal activity against the selected

strains of micro organisms.
CONCLUSION
From the study, it can be concluded that, the
extract have great potential antimicrobial compounds
against micro organisms. Also suggest that, it can be used

in the treatment of various infectious diseases caused by

micro organisms. Invention of bioactive natural products
leads to the development of new Pharmaceuticals hither to
natural therapeutic needs. Such screening was in need of
drug discovery, which will play an important role in drug
development.

REFERENCES
1. Madhava Chetty K, Sivaji K and Tulasi Rao K. Flowering Plants of Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. First edition,
2008, 158.
2. Nadkarni AK, Nadkarnis KM. Indian Materia Medica, Popular Prakashan Private Limited. Volume I, 3rd edition, 1986,
925.
3. Matthew KM. The flora of the Tamilnadu Carnatic. (F Tamil C), 1983, 67.
4. Sambamurthy K. Pharmaceutical Engineering, New Age International Publishers. 2dedition, 2005, 176-179.
5. Gunasekaran P. Laboratory Manual in Microbiology, New age International Publishers. 2002, 75-79.
6. Ravi kumar A and Subbu Rathinam KM. Antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum,
Colvillea racemosa and Bauhinia purpurea. Adv. Pharmacol.Toxicol, 10(2), 2009, 97-100.
7. Duraiswamy B, Sagar Kumar Mishra, Subhashini V, Dhanraj SA and Suresh B. Studies on the Antimicrobial Potential of
Mahonia leschenaultia Takeda Root and Root Bark. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2006, 389-391.

~ 17 ~