Authors :

Jency George,

Author Address :

Department of Biotechnology, Malankara Catholic College, Mariagiri, Kaliakkavilai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract :

To study the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical characterization of essential oil isolated from the rhizome of Canna indica against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Fresh rhizomes of C. indica were subjected to hydro distillation process to obtain essential oil. The essential oil was evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activity against ten pathogenic bacteria and seven fungi by the disc diffusion method. The antimicrobial activity of the oil showed significant inhibitory activity against the human pathogenic bacteria, no activity was observed against the fungi Aspergillus aculeatus and Fusarium oxysporum. The findings of the present study indicate that the rhizome extract of C. indica possesses secondary metabolites and potential to develop antimicrobial drugs.

Keywords :

Antimicrobial activity, Canna indica, Phytochemistry, Aspergillus aculeatus, Fusarium oxysporum, rhizomes, pathogenic bacteria and fungi