ABSTRACT:
Pimpinella anisum is one of the earliest used medicinal plants. It is used in fruits) as carminative, aromatic, disinfectant and galactogogue. Various Studies were performed on aniseed such as antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and anticonvulsant activity as well as different effects on gastrointestinal system. It is taken as a digestive after meals in India. The antibacterial activities of the aqueous, 50% (v/v) methanol, acetone and petroleum extracts of Pimpinella anisum fruits were studied. The extracts of Pimpinella anisum were tested in vitro against 4 bacterial species by the disc diffusion method. Stuphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Streptococcus pyogenes (MTCC 442), Escherichia coli (MTCC 723), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 109) were used in this investigation. Only aqueous 50% (v/v) methanol extract exhibited fair antibacterial activity against all the test bacteria whereas acetone and petroleum ether extracts were not observed to inhibit the growth of any of the test bacteria under study. Essential oils & methanol extracts obtained from aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris & Pimpinella anisum seeds were evaluated for their single & combined antibacterial activities against nine Gram-positive & Gram-negative bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumonia & Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The essential oils & methanol extracts revealed promising antibacterial activities against most pathogens using broth micro-dilution method. Maximum activity of Thymus vulgaris and Pimpinella anisum essential oils and methanol extracts (MIC 15.6 & 625 mpg/ml) were observed against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Proteus vulgaris. Combinations of essential oils and methanol extracts showed an additive action against most of the tested pathogens especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa.