10.prabakaran Manuscript

IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455
D.Prabhakaran et al
CODEN (USA): IAJPBB
ISSN 2349-7750
ISSN: 2349-7750
INDO AMERICAN JOURNAL OF
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
Available online at: http://www.iajps.com
Research Article
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA

LINN (FLOWERS)
D. Prabhakaran1,2*, A. Rajeshkanna1 and M. M. Senthamilselvi3
1
Department of Chemistry, Periyar E.V.R. College (Autonomous), Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India.
2
Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd., Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu, India.
3
Government Arts College, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to examine the antimicrobial effect of the sample from the ethylacetate fraction of
flowers of Argemone Mexicana Linn. This sample was shown to possess antimicrobial activity against bacteria and
fungi, viz. Six bacterial strains were Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus,
Bacillus substilis, Lacto bacillus and two fungal strains Curvularia lunata and Candida albicans by using disc
diffusion method. The anti bacterial activity of the sample from ethyl acetate fraction is almost comparable with
standard solvent control Chloramphenicol. The anti fungal activity is almost comparable with standard solvent
control Fluconazole. The results obtained from this study indicate that A. mexicana is a potential source of
antimicrobial and thus could prevent many diseases.
Keywords: Argemone Mexicana Linn; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; diffusion method;
Chloramphenicol;
Corresponding author:
D. Prabhakaran
Assistant Chemist
Quality Assurance Department
Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd.,
keelapalur, Ariyalur-621707
Tamil Nadu, India.
E.mail id: prabhakarandhanaval@gmail.com
Tel.No:+91 8526272361.
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Please cite this article in press as D.Prabhakaran et al, Antimicrobial Activity of Argemone Mexicana Linn
(Flowers), Indo Am. J. Pharm. Sci, 2016; 3(5).
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Page 450
IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455
D.Prabhakaran et al
INTRODUCTION:
Medicinal plants have been of age long remedies for
human diseases because they contain components of
therapeutic value [1]. The uses of herbal treatment
are one of the possible way to treat diseases caused
by multi drug resistant bacteria. Though Many
Pharmaceuticals industries have produced a number
of antibiotics from several years but in many cases it
was observed that the cultures were showing
resistance against the medicines [2]. To prove
efficiency the plant extract used as a drugs against
different types of pathogens [3-8]. The genetic
ability of pathogenic bacteria to develop resistance
against commonly used antibiotics is a major medical
problem and challenge worldwide, posing a big threat
to human society [9,10].
Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae), commonly
known as Prickly Poppy in English and Premathandu
in Tamil found in Mexico and now has widely
naturalised in the United States, India, Bangladesh
and Ethiopia. It occurs as wasteland weed in almost
every part of India [11, 12]. In Mexico, the seeds
have been used as an antidote to snake poisoning [13]
Argemone mexicana Linn. is also widely well known
around the world for its medicinal property to treat
several diseases: in India, decoction of the leaves are
indicated for the treatment of bacterial infections in
the Ayurvedic medicine [14]. In West Africa, A.
mexicana is used as uncomplicated malaria remedy
[15]. The studies indicated that the traditional
medical practitioners recommend utilization of the
leave plant mainly for the treatment of malaria and
the liver disorders [16].
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the
antibacterial potentials and phytochemical analysis of
Argemone mexicana flowers extract against some
selected bacterial species with the possible use as a
genuine antimicrobial agent in pharmacological
industries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Collection of Flowers
Fresh flowers of Argemone mexicana Linn were
collected from Z. Suthamalli, Ariyalur (Dt), Tamil
Nadu, India, during the month of January and
identified by Dr.S.John Britto, Director, The rapinat
Herbarium and Centre for Molecular Systematics
(Authentication No. DP004 dated: 22/01/2016).
St.Josephs College (Campus),Trichy, Tamil Nadu,
India.
Extraction and Fractionation
Fresh flower (1kg) of Argemone mexicana Linn
collected at Z. Suthamalli, Ariyalur (Dt), Tamil
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ISSN 2349-7750
Nadu, India were extracted with 90% ethanol

(5x500ml). The combined alcoholic extract was
concentrated in vacuo and the aqueous extract was
successively fractionated with petroleum ether (60800C) (6x250ml), Peroxide free diethyl ether
(4x250ml) and ethyl acetate (8x250ml). Petroleum
ether fraction and diethyl ether fraction did not yield
any isolable material. Ethyl acetate fraction on
concentration yielded a dry powder which was
dissolved in DMSO to get various concentrations and
were used for further study.
Antimicrobial Procedure
Screening of Antibacterial Activity
Bacteria Tested:
Four bacterial strains were used throughout
investigation. All the bacterial cultures were obtained
from Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC),
Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
The young bacterial broth cultures were prepared
before the screening procedure.
Preparation of Inoculums:
Stock cultures were maintained at 4oC on slopes of
nutrient agar. Active cultures of experiment were
prepared by transferring a loop full of cells from the
stock cultures to test tube of Muller-Hinton Broth
(MHB) that were incubated without agitation for 24
hrs at 37oC. The cultures were diluted with fresh
Muller-Hinton broth to achieve optical densities
corresponding to 2.0x106 colony forming units
(CFU/ml).
Antibacterial Susceptibility Test:
The disc diffusion method (Bauer et al., 1966) was
used to screen the antibacterial activity. In-vitro
antibacterial activity was screened by using Muller
Hinton Agar (MHA) obtained from Himedia
(Mumbai). The MHA plates were prepared by
pouring 15 ml of molten media into sterile
petriplates. The plates were allowed to solidify for 5
minutes and 0.1% inoculum suspension was swabbed
uniformly and the inoculums were allowed to dry for
5 minutes. The compound of concentration 10mg/ml,
20mg/ml, 30mg/ml, 40mg/ml were loaded on 6 mm
sterile disc. The loaded disc were placed on the
surface of medium and the compound was allowed to
diffuse for 5 minutes and the plates were kept for
incubation at 37oC for 24 hrs. At the end of
incubation, inhibition zones formed around the disc
were measured with transparent ruler in millimeter.
Standard
antibiotic
Chloramphenicol
of
concentration 1mg/ml was used as positive control
[17].
Page 451
IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455
D.Prabhakaran et al
ISSN 2349-7750
Table No. I: Antibacterial activity of the compound isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of flowers of
Argemone mexicana Linn
Zone of inhibition(mm)
S.No
Organisms
Sample Concentration (mg/ml)
Standard
(Chloramphenicol)
20
30
40
50
1
Salmonella typhi
20
7
10
12
18
2
Escherichia coli
24
8
10
15
17
3
Enterococcus faecalis
27
8
9
12
14
4
Bacillus cereus
26
6
8
12
14
5
Bacillus substilis
17
0
9
10
12
6
Lacto bacillus
23
6
9
12
14
Fig. I: Antibacterial activity of the compound isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of flowers of Argemone
mexicana Linn
Graph No.1: Graphical representation of anti bacterial activity of the compound isolated from the ethyl acetate
fraction of flowers of Argemone mexicana Linn. (Standard: Chloramphenicol, concentration 1 mg/ml)
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Page 452
IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455
D.Prabhakaran et al
Screening of Antifungal Activity

Culture Media
The media used for antifungal test was Sabourauds
dextrose agar/broth of Hi media Pvt. Bombay, India.
Inoculum
The fungal strains were inoculated separately in
Sabourauds dextrose broth for 6 h and the
suspensions were checked to provide approximately
105 CFU/ml.
Determination of Antifungal Activity
ISSN 2349-7750
The agar well diffusion method (Perez, 1993) was

modified. Sabourauds dextrose agar (SDA) was used
for fungal cultures. The culture medium was
inoculated with the fungal strains separately
suspended in Sabourauds dextrose broth. A total of 8
mm diameter wells were punched into the agar and
filled with sample solution and solvent blanks (hydro
alcohol,
and
hexane).
Standard
antibiotic
(Fucanazole, concentration 1 mg/ml) was used as
positive control and fungal plates were incubated at
37oC for 72 hrs. The diameters of zone of inhibition
observed were measured.
Table No. II: Antifungal activity of the compound isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of flowers of Argemone
mexicana Linn
Zone of inhibition(mm)
S.No
Organisms
Sample Concentration (mg/ml)
Standard
(Fluconazole)
20
30
40
50
1
Curvularia lunata
27
7
11
14
16
2
Candida albicans
19
0
8
10
15
Fig. II: Antifungal activity of the compound isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of flowers of Argemone
mexicana Linn
Graph No.2: Graphical representation of antifungal activity of the compound isolated from the ethyl acetate
fraction of flowers of Argemone mexicana Linn (Standard: Fluconazole, concentration 1 mg/ml)
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Page 453
IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455
D.Prabhakaran et al
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

In the present study, Argemone mexicana Linn
flowers were screened for antimicrobial activity and
compared with standard drug. It is evident from the
data presented in Table I that the compound isolated
from the ethyl acetate fraction of Argemone mexicana
Linn flowers possesses antibacterial activity. The disc
diffusion method result showed the zone of inhibition
for 20 mg/ml as 7 mm, 8 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm, 0 mm
and 6 mm for 30 mg/ml as 10 mm, 10 mm, 9 mm, 8
mm, 9 mm and 9 mm for 40 mg/ml showing 12 mm,
15 mm , 12 mm, 12 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm for 50
mg/ml as 18 mm, 17 mm, 14 mm,14 mm, 12 mm and
14 mm for the test sample against Salmonella typhi,
Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus
cereus, Bacillus substilis and Lacto bacillus
respectively when compared with standard drug
Chloramphenicol showing 20 mm, 24 mm , 27 mm,
26 mm, 17 mm and 23 mm zone of inhibition
respectively.
Then it is evident from the data presented in Table II
that the test sample possesses antifungal activity.
The disc diffusion method result showed the zone of
inhibition for 20 mg/ml as 7 mm and 0 mm, for 30
mg/ml as 11 mm and 8 mm, for 40 mg/ml as 14 mm
and 10 mm, for 50 mg/ml as 16 mm and 15 mm for
the test solution against Curvularia lunata and
Candida albicans respectively when compared with
standard drug Fluconazole showing 27 mm and 19
mm of inhibition respectively.
CONCLUSION:
This present study suggests that the sample isolated
from the ethylacetate fraction of Argemone Mexicana
Linn flowers possesses bioactive compounds with
antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains. It is
also suggest that A.mexicana Linn used for the
treatment of disease caused by some bacteria tested
in this study. These A.mexicana plant extract can be
used to formulate the new antibacterial drugs against
the diseases.
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IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455

CODEN (USA): IAJPBB

INDO AMERICAN JOURNAL OF

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA

IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455

Nadu, India were extracted with 90% ethanol

IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455

IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455

Screening of Antifungal Activity

The agar well diffusion method (Perez, 1993) was

IAJPS 2016, 3 (5), 450-455

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

[3]. Almagboul AZ, Bashir AK, Farouk A, Salih A K

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