Abstract:
Zanthoxylum armatum is a medicinal plant found in the Himalayan range. The present study was carried out to unravel the
activities of Z . a r m a t u m oleoresin against bacteria isolated from raw pork and chicken meat sold in Dharan submetropolitan
city. Five bacterial species Salmonella enterica var Typhi, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus
and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated. The antimicrobial activity of oleoresin extracted from Z. armatum was tested by
agar well diffusion method and MICs were compared with standard antibiotics against isolated bacteria. The MIC values of
oleoresin were ranged from 25-75 μl/mL. Zone of inhibition for oleoresin extracted with acetone was 10 mm (25 μl/mL)
against Shigella dysenteriae and Staphylococcus aureus, and 9.5mm(25 μl/mL) against Escherichia coli respectively. Zone of
inhibition of oleoresin extracted with chloroform was 12 mm (25 μl/mL) and 11 mm (25 μl/mL) against Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus aureus respectively, that of oleoresin extractedwith cyclohexanewas 10mm(25 μl/mLand 50 μl/mL) against
all the isolates, except Bacillus cereus. Zone of inhibition of oleoresin extractedwithmethanolwas 10mm(25 μl/mL) and 9.5
cm (25 μl/mL) against Shigella dysenteriae and Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli respectively. Zone of inhibition of
oleoresin extracted with petroleum ether was 10 mm (25 μl/mL and (50 μl/mL) against Escherichia coli and all the isolates
except Escherichia coli. Increasing oleoresin concentrations showed greater antimicrobial effect on the isolates. Bacillus
cereuswasmost affected; comparatively, Salmonella enterica varTyphiwas least affected by all the antibiotics.
Description:
Suman Rai, Department of Microbiology, Central Campus of Technology, Tribhuvan University, Dharan, Nepal
