Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences ISSN: 2231-6345 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jls.htm 2014 Vol. 4 (3) July-September, pp. 55-60/Sarmah et al. Research Article © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 55 ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF LEAVE EXTRACTS OF AMPHINEURON OPULENTUM (KAULF) HOLT. Tonmoi Sarmah 1 , *Dilip Hazarika 2 and Jayanta Barukial 2 1 Biotech Hub, D.R. College, Golaghat 2 Department of Botany, D.R. College, Golaghat *Author of Correspondence ABSTRACT In this study, antibacterial and antifungal activities of frond extract of Amphineuron opulentum (Kaulf) Holt. was investigated. In this investigation we studied the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the extracts (methanol, aqueous, ethanol, chloroform, petroleum ether) of the plant against four bacterial species i.e. Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Klebsiella sp. and two fungal species i.e. Aspergillus and Fusarium. Remarkable antibacterial activity was shown by the extracts against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. Fungal strains were more susceptible to the methanol extract. Results were compared with antibiotics as standards. Keywords: In Vitro Antibacterial Activity, Antifungal Activity, Extract, Amphineuron Opulentum, Frond, Zone of Inhibition INTRODUCTION The study of antibacterial and antifungal properties of phytochemical is very infancy. Moreover, the study of phytochemical properties of cryptogamic plant is very inadequate (Sharma et al., 2013). In the present investigation, we have attempted to study antibacterial and antifungal properties of frond extracts of Amphineuron opulentum (Kaulf.) Holt., a cryptogamic vascular plant against certain microbes viz. two Gram positive bacteria namely Bacillus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. and two Gram negative bacteria namely Pseudomonas sp. and Klebsiella sp; two fungal species of Aspergillus and Fusarium. Amphineuron opulentum is used extensively for various traditional practices by the indigenous people of North East India particularly the tribal peoples of Upper Assam. The history of traditional practice of plants against the various practices in India can be traced to remote past. Primitive tribes who still eke out their life style gathered by dwelling in remote inaccessible forest areas far way from modern civilization possess quite good amount of knowledge of plants for various purposes. Their knowledge gives excellent clues for establishing novel ideas in modern scientific work. Fresh fronds of Amphineuron opulentum are used as layering bed for drying fish in sunlight or on fire by the tribal people of India. Shade dried fronds are used for wrapping the fishes for preservation and also in poultry farms to repel flies. Due to its insect repellent, antimicrobial, antilarval and painkiller properties, the indigenous people of India particularly in Assam has been used this plant (Rao and Baishya, 1982; Fraser-Jenkins, 1997; Barukial and Sarmah, 2011). The present study examines the antimicrobial properties of Amphineuron opulentum extracts with aqueous, ethanol, methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether against some bacterial and fungal species. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of Plant Materials and Extraction- The plant material were collected from botanical garden, D. R. College, Golaghat, Assam. The collected plants were washed thoroughly in tap water and shade dried. The extraction process was carried out using standard process (Harborne, 1973). Dried leaves were separated and coarsely powdered by a mechanical grinder. About 10 gm of dried powder were soaked in 100 ml of different solvents viz. ethanol, methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether in conical flasks. Each solution was then subjected to a rotary shaker for three days at 200 rpm. Now each extract was filtered separately. The filtrate was allowed to concentrate by heating on a boiling water bath. Concentrated extracts were then preserved in air tight bottles at 4° C for further use. Aqueous extract of the plant was prepared by soaking 10 gm of dried powder in 100 ml of boiling water and the extract was filtered using a muslin cloth.