Antimicrobial activity of fruits of Solanum nigrum and Solanum xanthocarpum.

Current study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial activity of fruit extracts of two Solanaceous plants (Solanum nigrum and Solanum xanthocarpum) found in Pakistan. Petroleum ether, chloroform, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water were utilized for extraction. The highest percentages of polar components of both the species were extracted by water; little amount of non-polar components by petroleum ether while very low quantities by other solvents. Antimicrobial activities were estimated by measuring zones of inhibition through hole-plate diffusion method, against three species of Gram positive bacteria, five species of Gram negative bacteria and three species of fungi selected for this study. Doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg/mL prepared through methanolic extracts of each plant's powdered fruit material displayed significant zones of inhibition against all three Gram positive bacteria, three of the Gram negative bacteria out of five and against all three fungi. Although these doses exhibited significant zones of inhibition but they are not as potent as standards: ampicillin or amphotericin B. The present study assures the possible potential of antimicrobial as well as antifungal activity of fruit extracts of these plants.