African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (23), pp. 2650-2653, 3 December 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Antibacterial properties of Passiflora foetida L. – a common exotic medicinal plant

C. Mohanasundari¹, D. Natarajan²*, K. Srinivasan³, S. Umamaheswari⁴ and A. Ramachandran⁵

¹Department of Microbiology, Kandaswami Kandar’s College, P. Velur, 638 182, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, South India.

²Department of Botany, Periyar E.V.R. College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli 620 023, Tamil Nadu, South India.

³Department of Biology, Eritrea Institute of Technology, Mai Nefhi, Asmara, North East Africa.

⁴Department of Eco-Biotechnology, School of Environmental Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, South India.

⁵Forest Utilization Division, Tamil Nadu Forests Department, Chennai 600 006, Tamil Nadu, South India

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mdnataraj@rediffmail.com.

Accepted 20 October, 2006

Passiflora foetida L. (stinking passion flower) is an exotic medicinal vine. The antibacterial properties of leaf and fruit (ethanol and acetone) extracts were screened against four human pathogenic bacteria i.e. Pseudomonas putida, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella flexneri and Streptococcus pyogenes by well-in agar method. The results showed the leaf extract having remarkable activity against all bacterial pathogens compared to fruits. This study supports, the traditional medicines (herbal extracts) to cure many diseases like diarrhea, intestinal tract, throat, ear infections, fever and skin diseases.

Key words: Passiflora foetida, antibacterial activity, ethanol and acetone extracts, human pathogenic bacteria.