J. Amutha Iswarya Devi

ABSTRACTIn recent years, there has been a growing interest in researching and developing new antimicrobial agents from various sources to combat microbial resistance. Therefore, a greater attention has been paid to antimicrobial activity screening and evaluating methods. The research work was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Saccharum spontaneum Linn. (Family: Poaceae). Disc diffusion technique was used for antibacterial and cup plate method was used for antifungal screening. Antibacterial tests were performed by disc diffusion method on nutrient agar, in order to analyze the percentage zone of inhibition. Whole plant’s extract showed the significant zone of inhibition (mm), against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Modified agar well diffusion method was used to measure the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Antifungal method was performed by cup plate method against Candida albicans. Due to presence of tannins, polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids, it inhibits the growth of bacteria on most regulatory levels. Keywords: Saccharum spontaneum, ethanolic crude extract, agar diffusion method, cup plate method.