Abstract
The aim of study is to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of natural compounds like Rutin (bioflavonoid) and Berberine (isoquinoline alkaloid) by using disc diffusion method. Antibacterial activity was determined using two gram positive cultures (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and two gram negative cultures (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli). Antifungal activity was evaluated against Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides fungal cultures. Both Rutin and Berberine were tested at concentration of 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml. The isoquinoline alkaloid Berberine at 50μg/ml has significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. At 100 μg/ml it has highly significant antibacterial activity against all cultures compared to control group. Rutin has no significant antibacterial activity at 50 μg/ml however at 100 μg/ml it has shown significant activity against Bacillus subtilis. Rutin has no significant antifungal activity at both the doses. Berberine at 50 μg/ml did not show any significant activity against Aspergillus flavus but it was shown lower significant activity against Fusarium verticillioides however at higher concentration (100 μg/ml) it has shown highly significant activity against both the cultures. Berberine has shown higher anti-bacterial and antifungal against all cultures and the activity was better when compared to Rutin. It was concluded that the antibacterial and antifungal potential of these natural products might be due to interference of microbial protein synthesis, so these natural compounds might be better therapeutic targets for bacteria and fungi clinically for development of safe and efficacious antimicrobials.
