Antimicrobial potential in Artemisia scoparia and Echinacea purpurea

In the present work the antimicrobial activity of leaves of Echinacea purpurea and whole plant of Artemisia scoparia were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus atrophoeous (human pathogenic bacteria) Ervinia carotovora, Agrobaterium tumefactions (plant pathogenic bacteria) and a fungus, Candida albicans by using agar disc diffusion method. Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Clotrimazole were used as standard antibiotics. The extracts of E. purpurea showed marked susceptibility against the microbes when tested in two different concentrations (1 mg/6 µl and 2 mg/12 µl). Similarly the whole plant of Artemisia scoparia produced significant activity against tested pathogens but was comparatively less pronounced. Based on the results, it is concluded that the extract of both plant could be effective natural healing agents against infections caused by the test organisms.