Antimicrobial studies on the leaves of Earva Javanica

Leaves of Aerva javanica (Family:Amaranthaceae) were extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol. The crude extracts were investigated for its antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis ,Bacillus cerus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Shigella dysenteriae and antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The extracts showed significant antibacterial activity in the order methanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether and methanol and ethyl acetate extract showed moderate antifungal activity while petroleum ether extract did not showed any activity against all the microorganisms tested. How ever, the antibacterial, antifungal activity of the methanol extract of the leaves was found to be most effective against all the organisms.