Plant Science Research, Vol. 36, 2014

Comparative antibacterial studies of in vivo and in vitro leaves of Lawsonia inermis L.- A multipurpose medicinal plant

A comparative antibacterial study of in vivo and in vitro leaf extracts was performed against four different bacterial strains viz., Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Shigella flexnerii and Salmonella enteric-typhii. Both types of leaf materials (in vivo and in vitro) of L. inermis screened for four different solvent systems, showed anti-bacterial activity (MIC values) against all human pathogenic bacteria tested. Of the four bacterial strains evaluated, the best MIC value (200 ìg/ml) was observed in in vitro leaf extract of all the solvent system against Streptococcus pyogenes. Acetone and n-hexane in vitro leaf extract was found to be more effective (MIC = 200 ìg/ml) than in vivo leaf extract (MIC = 400 ìg/ml) for S. pyogenes and S. mutans, respectively. The results of this study tend to give credence to the use of henna leaf of in vitro regenerated plants as antibacterial agent in pharmaceutical industries without disturbing the garden plants.