Evaluation of Antimicrobial Properties of Morus alba Grown on Silkworm Litter

Abstract

Antibiotics provide the main basis for treating infectious diseases. Hence, there is an increase in the investigations on plants as a source of human disease management. Morus alba belonging to family Moraceae has been reported to possess several medicinal properties. In the present study the antimicrobial properties of mulberry plant grown in different conditions have been analysed. The main aim of the study was to compare the differences in the antimicrobial properties of mulberry grown on different organic manures such as farmyard manure and silkworm litter. The antimicrobial properties of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts were tested against pathogenic bacteria such as E.coli and Pseudomonas and fungi such as Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum . Significant zone of inhibition were obtained for both bacterial pathogens when treated with extracts of mulberry grown on silkworm litter. Whereas with respect to fungi, FYM treated plant leaf extracts showed significant antifungal properties.