The present study was undertaken with an objective to find out the antibacterial activity of Ficus Recemosa Linn. Leaves against Actinomycets viscosus .The hydro alcoholic extract of Ficus Recemosa Linn. Was found effective against Actinomyces vicosus (MTCC 7345). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using Broth dilution technique and found to be 0.08mg/ml. The zone of inhibition was measured using Cup plate diffusion technique.

Key Words: Antibacterial activity, Ficus Recemosa, Actinomyces viscosus, leaves.

Preparation of Extract:
A coarse powder of the leaves of Ficus Recemosa Linn was prepared and dried at 500^c. The coarse powder extracted using hydroalcohoic (methanol:water) in soxhlet apparatus. The extracts were then subjected to photochemical screening using standard procedure.

Test Organism:
The extract were screened against bacteria i.e. Actinomyces Viscosus (MTCC 7345).

Table 1:
Showing protocol for evaluations of MIC, results of Broth Dilution technique and Cup Plate Diffusion.

++ Turbidity present, -- Turbidity absent.

Antibacterial Activity:

A) Broth Dilution technique:
Preparation of extracts of Ficus racemosa leaves: 0.1 gram (100mg) of dried evaporated extract was dissolved in 100ml of 70% methanol giving final concentration of 1 mg/ml.

Preparation of sterilizing media :
The microbial work was carried out in aseptic area. Brain Heart Infusion broth was prepared. The medium was poured in the tubes which were then sterilized by autoclave using 15 lb pressure at 121⁰C for 15 minutes. Using sterile pipettes exact amount of extract was added as indicated in the Table 1 to obtain a final volume of 10ml. The tubes were then inoculated with 0.05ml of the standardized culture. The tubes were incubated at temperature 30⁰C for 48 hours. The tubes were observed for growth of microorganism by observing the turbidity produced. The test procedure was repeated three times to check the reproducibility of the results. The lowest concentration that inhibits the growth is the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Penicillin was used as reference standard.

B) Cup Plate Diffusion Method:
All the glassware and the Petri plates were sterilized by dry heat in an oven at 160⁰C for one hour. Brain Heart Infusion agar was prepared in distilled water. Molten agar was poured in each test tube and plugged with non absorbent cotton. All the test tubes were sterilized by autoclaving using 15 lbs pressure at 121⁰C for 15 minutes. The molten agar
was poured in sterile Petri plates aseptically and allowed to solidify at room temperature. All the Petri plates were aseptically flooded with 0.1ml of the standardized culture. The holes of 7mm were bored aseptically using sterile cork borer. The agar plugs were taken out carefully so as not to disturb the surrounding medium. The holes were filled completely with desired extract and kept in incubator at 30⁰C for 48 hours. After this the Petri plates were
observed for the antibacterial activity and zone of inhibition was measured. The solvent effect was neutralized.

Figure 1: Showing results of Cup Plate Diffusion method and Broth Dilution method.
A: Showing results of Cup Plate Diffusion Method
B: Showing results of Broth Dilution Method

Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration for antibacterial activity

A. Broth Dilution technique :
The tubes were incubated at temperature 30⁰C for 48 hours. The tubes were observed for growth of microorganism by observing the turbidity produced. The tubes having concentration of extract in final solution from 0.01 mg/ml to 0.07 mg/ml shown the presence of turbidity when incubated at temperature 30⁰C for 48 hours. The tubes having concentration of extract in final solution from 0.08 mg/ml to 0.1 mg/ml produced clear solutions when incubated at temperature 30⁰C for 48 hours. The test procedure was repeated three times to check the reproducibility of the results. The lowest concentration that inhibited the growth of microorganism Actinomyces viscosus was 0.08 mg/ml. From this data Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the extracts of Ficus racemosa leaves for microorganism Actinomyces viscosus was found to be 0.08 mg/ml.

B. Cup Plate Diffusion Method :
The Petri plates were incubated at temperature 30⁰C for 48 hours. When the Petri plates were observed for the antibacterial activity and zone of inhibition was measured The Petri plates having concentration of extract 0.07 mg/ml incubated at temperature 30⁰C for 48 hours did not show any zone of inhibition. The Petri plates having concentration of extract 0.08 mg/ml to 0.1mg/ml incubated at temperature 30⁰C for 48 hours produced zone of inhibition. Metronidazole gel was used as positive control produced zone of inhibition. The test procedure was repeated three times to check the reproducibility of the results. The concentration of extract of Ficus racemosa leaves 0.08 mg/ml, 0.09 mg/ml; 0.1 mg/ml shown the zone of inhibition.The extract of Ficus racemosa leaves of 0.08mg/ml to 0.1 mg/ml have better antibacterial acticity.

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