Cost-Effective in Vitro Propagation of Ornamental Plants and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities against Staphylococci

Pages:10-13
Farah Ashraf, Asma Bashir, Shahab Mehmood, Bushra Noman and Kashif Ali (Department of Biosciences, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan)

Tissue culturing is extensively used as a successful technique for the propagation of numerous plants. This venture is focused on the propagation of ornamental plants by using simple and low estimated media not including any additional adjuvant. Ixora coccinea, Draceana reflexa (Song of India), Alternanthera (Purple Knight), Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) and Cestrum Nocturnum (Raat Ki Rani) were subjected for the initiation. Among five plants, three plants successfully showed the results while one of them did not show positive results. Draceana, Alternanthera, Ixora successfully nurture in the lab condition while Kiwi and Cestrum Nocturnum were unsuccessful to grow in the medium.The successfully propagated ornamental plants (Ixoracoccinea, Draceana Reflexa (Song of India), Alternanthera (Purple Knight) were then tested for the antimicrobial activity. The leaves aqueous and chloroform extracts showed potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The most effective extract which showed 100% efficacy was the aqueous extract of Ixora coccineae against Staphylococcus aureus whereas the less effective extract among all was the aqueous extract of Draceana. Five different antibiotics discs were also tested in comparison to the ornamental plants. Such a cocktail may reduce the threat of rapid resistance development against several antibiotics.