Antimicrobial activities of rhizomes of Polygonatum verticillatum: attributed to its total flavonoidal and phenolic contents.

The current study was undertaken to evaluate the rhizomes of Polygonatum verticillatum against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Broad spectrum antibacterial activity was demonstrated by the crude extract of the plant and its subsequent solvent fractions; predominantly against Gram-negative bacteria. MICs of the extracts against Escherchia coli, Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexeneri were in the range of 1.5-40 μg/ml, 03-06 μg/ml and 03-40 μg/ml, respectively. The only sensitive Gram-positive bacterium was Staphylococcus aureus with MICs in the range of 75-80 μg/ml. The fungicidal activity was limited to Microspoum canis and Fusarium solani and the MICs were in the range of 350-360 μg/ml and 190-290 μg/ml respectively. The various fractions of rhizomes contained significant concentration of total flavonoidal and total phenolic contents that could be responsible for the current findings.