Antimicrobial Evaluation of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Aerva Lanata: A Phytopharmacological Study

Abstract

Medicinal plants have long been recognized as valuable sources of therapeutic agents, particularly in the management of microbial infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of the aqueous leaf extract of Aerva lanata, a traditionally used medicinal plant belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. The plant leaves were collected, authenticated, shade-dried, and subjected to aqueous extraction using the Soxhlet method. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive constituents such as carbohydrates, tannins, proteins, and resins. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was assessed against selected Gram-negative bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum, as well as fungal strains such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, using the agar well diffusion method. The results demonstrated that the aqueous extract exhibited moderate to significant antimicrobial activity, with zones of inhibition varying depending on concentration and microbial strain. The highest activity was observed at 500 µg/mL concentration, showing comparable effects to standard drugs such as gentamicin. The findings suggest that Aerva lanata possesses promising antimicrobial properties, which may be attributed to its phytochemical constituents. This study supports the traditional use of the plant and highlights its potential as a natural source for the development of antimicrobial agents.