Antibacterial analysis of crude extracts from the leaves and latex of Calotropis procera

The antibacterial effect of ethanol, acetone, aqueous and chloroform extracts of leaf and latex of Calotropis procera on bacteria namely, Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) and Pseudomonas putida (MTCC 1194) were determined using agar well diffusion and paper disc methods. The results revealed that the acetone was the best extractive solvent for antibacterial active compounds of leaf and latex of C. procera followed by chloroform, ethanol and aqueous extracts. The acetone extracts of C. procera latex gave the widest zone of inhibition (25mm) against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) as tested using agar well diffusion while 22mm was recorded for the same organism in the paper disc method. The growth of both the bacterial isolates was inhibited by the extracts namely acetone, ethanol and chloroform extracts while the aqueous extract was the least effective. The best antibacterial activity was recorded in acetone extract of C. procera latex against Bacillus subtilis. This study revealed that the C procera latex demonstrated strong inhibitory effect on the test organisms than C. procera leaf. These results established a good support for the use of C. procera in traditional medicine