In vitro antimicrobial activity of dicranopteris linearis extracts and fractions

Abstract

Dicranopteris linearis belongs to the family of Gleicheniaceae known locally in Malay as 'Resam '. Traditionally the crushed leaves are applied as a poultice to control fever and to get rid of intestinal worms. The leaves of D. linearis was soaked separately in aqueous, chloroform and methanol before partitioning with hexane, chloroform and methanol. Antimicrobial test has been carried out using micro-broth dilution. The target microbe were S aureus 25923, S aureus 33591 (a Multi drug resistant S aureus (MRSA) isolate), S.aureus 700699 (VISA isolate), VRSA 156, E. coli 35218 and C. albicans 10231. The results showed methanol extract as the most active in antimicrobial testing with the MlC/MBC values as 625 ug/ml. Based on this results, fractionation has been carried on the methanol extract. B5, B6 and B11 fractions were found to be effective against Siaureus 33591 and S aureus 25927 with MlC/JvfBC value 1250 - 2500 ug/m). Other fractions displayed no inhibition against Siaureus 33591 and S aureus 25927.