ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY, PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND FT-IR ANALYSIS OF Salix Nigra PLANT EXTRACT AGAINST GRAM POSITIVE AND GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major issue in medical world, so the most important step in microbiological research is to find out the new antimicrobial compounds that have minimal side effects. Several plants, including Salix nigra, are known to possess antimicrobial activity and have biological compounds that are used to treat ailments from the beginning of human civilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity and presence of secondary metabolites in Salix nigra plant extract. Antibacterial activity of ethanolic plant extract was estimated against pathogenic gram positive (Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureits) and gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) by using agar well diffusion methods. The maximum antibacterial activity was observed with Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) that made zone of inhibition of 18 mm. Further more, the presence of several phytochemicals including alkaloids, resins and phenols was confirmed. It is concluded that ethanolic plant extract has tremendous antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. This finding will encourage the ethno-pharmacological usage of Salix nigra.