Antimicrobial activity of Cinnamomum tamala (Tejpat)against some bacterial and fungal pathogens

In this study the efficacy of methanol extract of whole leaf of Cinnamomum tamala (Hindi Tejpat)against common bacteria S. aureus (MTCC 87), E. coli (MTCC 443), Klebisella pneumoniae (MTCC 109), Citrobacter braakii (MTCC 737), P. aeruginosa (MTCC 741)and two fungus species R. stolonifer (MTCC 162) M. gypseum (MTCC 2819)were investigated. The disc diffusion method was used to determine antimicrobial activity of Cinnamomum tamala (Hindi Tejpat). The effect of extract was compared with that of standard antibiotic- ampicillin for bacteria and fluconazole for fungus. The effect of Cinnamomum tamala leafs extract on bacterial morphology is shown in the scanning electron micrographs (SEM). The result indicate that the extract inhibit the growth of bacteria in following order S. aureus>E. coli>Klebisella>Citrobacter>P. aeruginosa. The extract is inactive against both fungus R. stolonifer, M. gypseum. Each antimicrobial assay was perform in at least triplicate mean values (±standard deviation)reported in this study. Compared with standard antibiotic extract was more potent then antibiotic drug. Respectively the observed antimicrobial activities were believed to be due to the presence of tannins, alkaloids and flavonoid identified in the extract.