Investigation the Antimicrobial Activity of Methanol Extracts of the Leaves of Ficus Nitida

The aim of this study was to prepare crude extracts from the leaves of Ficus nitida and determine their content as well as their antimicrobial activity. Powdered leaf samples were extracted with methanol by using maceration method. The resulting crude extract was suspended in water and successively extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol solvents respectively. Total flavonoids of the above extracts were determined by the aluminum chloride method and antimicrobial activity of the same extracts was assessed by a slightly modified disc diffusion method against different gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains. The highest flavonoids content was found in chloroform crude extract followed by that of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts respectively. Tested against four bacterial strains, the extracts showed activity in the range of 0-12 mm, using amoxicillin as standard. The present findings could establish this plant as a potential source of antibiotics.