Phcog.Net | www.phcogj.com 351 June 2010 | Vol 2 | Issue 10 Free Access : Available Online PHCOG J A Study of Antimicrobial Activity of Few Medicinally Important Herbal Single Drugs Extracted in Ethanol, Methanol and Aqueous Solvents Ayesha Mateen 1 *, Parwez Ahmed 1 , Gupta VC. 1 , Mushtaq Ahmed 1 , Amin Uddin 2 , Arfin Shamshul 2 , Janardhan K. 3 1 Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Opp, E.S.I. Hospital, Erragadda, Hyderabad – 500838 (A.P), India. 2 Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, 61-65, Institutional Area, Janakpuri, NewDelhi – 110058. 3 Head P.G Department of Biotechnology, A.V.College Hyderabad (A.P), India. * Address for correspondence: Mobile: +91-9866479236 ; Email: ayeshamateen@gmail.com. INTRODUCTION Infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses are still a major threat to public health, despite the huge progress in human medicine. Their impact is particularly large in developing countries due to unavailability of medicines and the emergence of widespread drug resistance [1] . Natural products especially, those used in ethno medicine provide a major source of innovative therapeutic agents for various conditions including infectious disease. The antimicrobial activity of different plant extracts have been reported by many authors [3,4,11] . Different classes of antibiotics have been used to control bacterial infections. However, the usefulness of existing antimicrobial agents is rapidly fading, tipping the balance in favour of multi-drug resistant pathogens, including MRSA and there appears to be few, if any, new classes of drugs currently in use to fight against the multi-drug resistant pathogens. Multidrug- resistance (MDR) exhibited by many bacterial species is a major problem in treating both hospital and community acquired infections. Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Stem bark )has for long been used in the traditional Unani system of medicine for its beneficial properties. The aqueous extracts of stem bark used as tonic, stimulant and as a remedy against various skin ailments [6] . The chemical constituents are Nimbin, Nimbinin and Nimbidin. Keywords: Anti-bacterial, Herbal drugs, Extracts Editor: Srisailam Keshetti, Phcog.Net Copyright: © 2010 Phcog.net *Author for Correspondence: ayeshamateen@gmail.com ABSTRACT: There is a currently worldwide upsurge in the use of herbal preparations and active ingredients of medicinal plant in health care. This is particularly true in the rural areas of Asian countries where herbal medicines are the only choice for treating human ailments. Present study reveals the difference in the antimicrobial activity pattern of Hemidesmus indicus, Smilax china,Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum cannum, Azadirachta indica A.Juss, Trigonella Foenum graceum and piper cubeba extracted in Ethanol, Methanol and Aqueous solvents against the pathogenic organisms E.coli (ATCC-25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-25923), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC-27853),Bacillus subtilis(L10969), Bacillus subtilis (SL5740) and clinically isolated strains Shigella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella typhi and Stapylococcus aureus. Among all the extracts Ethanol shows more activity with a zone of inhibition ranges from 10mm to 22mm. And Aqueous extract shows less inhibition which ranges from 6mm to 11mm.