In this study the antibacterial activity of wild (small) and Banarasi (big) varieties of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. were evaluated against eight species of bacterial pathogens, viz. E. coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Staphylococcus
aureus, Bacillus sp., Proteus sp. Pseudomonas sp. and Klebsiella sp. The antibacterial activity was determined in aqueous,
ethanolic, chloroform and acetone extracts of fruits. Aqueous, ethanolic and acetone extracts of fruits of both varieties
effectively inhibited the growth of the test bacteria, but maximally of Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum or no antibacterial
activity was observed for the chloroform extract of both small and big varieties of E. officinalis, except for Bacillus sp.
The wild variety was more effective for S. aureus, E. coli, S. typhi, S. paratyphi, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas, producing
wider zones of inhibition of growth, than the Banarasi variety.
Key words: Emblica officinalis, antibacterial assay, disc diffusion, fruit extract, wild or small variety, Banarasi or big variety.
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