ABSTRACT
Garcinia xanthochymus (Clusiaceae) is an evergreen tree species of tropical regions. The fruits are consumed by the rural and tribal communities of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India. Fruits have sound nutritional and antibacterial activities. Less reports on leaf extracts are available in spite of sound anti-inflammatory activities and leaf paste is used against bacterial infections collected from the local communities. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to evaluate the antibacterial activities of aqueous extract of Garcinia xanthochymus leaves. The plant extract was prepared by maceration in water. The qualitative phytochemical analysis was done. The extract was used to evaluate the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) using broth dilution method against selected five bacterial strains [Vibrio cholerae (MTCC 3909), Salmonella typhi (MTCC 1252), Shiegella flexneri 386(MTCC 1457), Streptococcus pyogenes (MTCC 1926), Streptococcus mutans (MTCC497)]. Field survey revealed that leaves are used against inflammation and antibacterial infections. The MIC values showed that aqueous extract of experimental leaves are low against MTCC 1926 than other studied bacterial strains. Based on the validation of tribal claims, it is concluded that ethnobotanical values are the base of ethnopharmacological and pharmaceutical industries and could help to fight against AMR (Antimicrobial resistance).
