Full Length Research Paper

Parasiticidal, antifungal and antibacterial activities of Onosma griffithii Vatke

B. Ahmad¹*, N. Ali^{2, 4}, S. Bashir², M. I. Choudhary³, S. Azam and I. Khan¹

¹Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, N.W.F.P. Pakistan.

²Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, N.W.F.P. Pakistan.

³International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, H.E.J Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi. Pakistan.

⁴Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara Dir, N.W.F.P. Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: bashirdr2001@yahoo.com.

Accepted 13 August, 2009

   Abstract

Onosma griffithii was screened for possible pharmacological activities. The crude methanolic extract (MeOH) and its fractions demonstrated parasiticidal activity (IC ₅₀ (µg/ml ± S.D) = 31.03 ± 0.23) against Leishmania major. Based on the IC ₅₀ values, the potency of the standard drug (Pentamidine) and test fractions were of the order as: Pentamidine > crude extract > n-hexane fraction > ethyl acetate (ETOAc) fraction > chloroform fraction (CHCl₃) fraction > n-butanol (BUOH) fraction > aqueous fraction. Similarly moderate antifungal activity was displayed by the crude methanolic extract against Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium solani. Against the Staphylococcus aureus, the aqueous fraction demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity.

Key words: Parasiticidal, antileishmanial, antifungal, antibacterial and IC₅₀ values.