Study of Antimicrobial Activity of Dolicus lablab Leaf Extract

Nature has been source of medicinal plants from thousands of years. In traditional medicine practice, the leaf of Dolicus lablab, commonly known as ‘hyacinth bean’ is said to have a significant medicinal value. In Ancient Arab medical practice the leaf of Dolicus lablab were said to be used in treatment of infections. Hence our present study aimed to test both anti bacterial and antifungal activities of methanol, ethanol, aqueous extracts of Dolicus lablab against three strains of fungi (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans.) and four strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus  epidermidis) using agar well diffusion method. Among the three extracts, methanolic extract showed very potential antifungal and antibacterial activity ,with a highest zone of inhibition against fungi, T. mentagrophytes (30mm) and two Gram(-) bacteria, E. coli, P. aureginosa, with a Zone of inhibition at a range 15-19mm and 8-11mm.