Abstract:

Objective: To study the antimicrobial activity of Chenopdium album L. extract in vitro. Methods: Chenopdium album L. was extracted with 65% ethanol, and then vacuum concentration was conducted to remove ethanol. Finally the concentrate was extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate, separately. The effects of different solvent extracts against seven species of pathogenic microorganisms were determined by the methods of agar diffusion and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results: The petroleum ether extract and chloroform extract have no obvious inhibition effects against seven species of pathogenic microorganisms. However the ethyl acetate extract has strong antimicrobial activity, whose MICs against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans are less than 1.56 mg/ml, 3.13 mg/ml, 6.25 mg/ml, 6.25 mg/ml, 12.5 mg/ml, more than 50 mg/ml and more than 50 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusions: The ethyl acetate extract has strong inhibition effect against bacteria except fungus. And It has stronger activity against G(-) bacteria than against G(+) those.

Key words: Chenopdium album L, extract, antimicrobial activity