Invitro Antimicrobial and Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Leucas aspera Plant Extract by Using Agar Well Diffusion Method

Abstract

Background: Diarrheal diseases remain a major public health concern worldwide due to the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among enteric pathogens. Medicinal plants are considered promising sources of novel antimicrobial agents. Leucas aspera , a medicinal herb widely used in traditional medicine, possesses several pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial activity.  Aim & Objectives: The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of Leucas aspera against selected diarrhea-causing bacterial pathogens using the agar well diffusion method. The objectives were to determine the antibacterial potential of the extract at different concentrations and to compare its efficacy with the standard antibiotic Gentamicin.  Materials & Methods: The aerial parts of Leucas aspera were shade-dried, powdered, and extracted with 70% ethanol using the maceration extraction method. The antibacterial activity of the extract was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by the agar well diffusion assay. Different concentrations of the extract (50, 100, 250, and 500 µg/mL) were tested, while Gentamicin served as the positive control. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours, and the zones of inhibition were measured in millimeters.