Abstract :
In developing countries the gradual revival of use of medicinal plants is attributed to the safety of herbal medicines
with minimal adverse effects as comparable to the synthetic drugs. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial
effect of formulated gel containing chloroform extract of M.hortensis and ethanolic extract of C. longa. An
optimized topical gel (carbopol- 934, as gelling agent) formulation in combination with the two herbal drugs was
prepared in the 2:3 ratio and was evaluated. The extracts were prepared using standard procedures and physicochemical
parameters of the formulated gel were determined. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity was done
using agar well diffusion method for determination of zone of inhibition. The studies indicated that with the increase in
the concentration of the extract there is increase in the zone of inhibition with both the test extracts. The present study
investigated the anti-bacterial activity of chloroform extract of M.hortensis and ethanolic extract of C. longa against
various bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, P.aeroginosa and Candida
albicans at different concentrations. In the anti-bacterial activity, the zone of inhibition (ZOI) was highest for S.aureus
and P.aeroginosa at 150 mg/ml with the chloroform extract of M.hortensis and similarly ethanolic extract of C. longa
produced highest zone of inhibition for E. Coli and B.subtilis. In the anti-fungal activity, the two test extracts
chloroform extract of M.hortensis and ethanolic extract of C. longa showed 19 mm and 20 mm at 150 mg/ml as
comparable to the standard. From the results it can be concluded that the formulated gel exhibited a potent antimicrobial
activity.
Key Words: Anti-microbial, anti-fungal, zone of inhibition, herbal extracts, formulated gel.
Keyword :
Anti-microbial, anti-fungal, zone of inhibition, herbal extracts, formulated gel.