Objective: To investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activities of the leaf extract in different solvents viz., methanol, ethanol and water extracts of the selected plant Ricinus communis. Methods:Agar well diffusion method and agar tube dilution method were carried out to perform the antibacterial and antifungal activity of methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts. Results:Methanol leaf extracts were found to be more active against Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis: ATCC 6059 and Staphylococcus aureus: ATCC 6538) as well as Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa: ATCC 7221 and Klebsiella pneumoniae) than ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts. Antifungal activity of methanol and aqueous leaf extracts were also carried out against selected fungal strains as Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Methanolic as well as aqueous leaf extracts of Ricinus communis were effective in inhibiting the fungal growth. Conclusions: The efficient antibacterial and antifungal activity of Ricinus communis from the present investigation revealed that the methanol leaf extracts of the selected plant have significant potential to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains than ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activities of the leaf extract in different solvents viz., methanol, ethanol and water extracts of the selected plant Ricinus communis.

METHODSAgar well diffusion method and agar tube dilution method were carried out to perform the antibacterial and antifungal activity of methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts.

RESULTSMethanol leaf extracts were found to be more active against Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis: ATCC 6059 and Staphylococcus aureus: ATCC 6538) as well as Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa: ATCC 7221 and Klebsiella pneumoniae) than ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts. Antifungal activity of methanol and aqueous leaf extracts were also carried out against selected fungal strains as Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Methanolic as well as aqueous leaf extracts of Ricinus communis were effective in inhibiting the fungal growth.

CONCLUSIONSThe efficient antibacterial and antifungal activity of Ricinus communis from the present investigation revealed that the methanol leaf extracts of the selected plant have significant potential to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains than ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Aspergillus ; drug effects ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; drug effects ; Humans ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Ricinus ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

The present study was designed to investigate the attachment styles and death anxiety among pregnant women. In order to meet the study objectives sample of (n=62) was recruited from hospitals of Rawalpindi (i.e., Maryam Memorial and Cantonment Hospital) and Islamabad (i.e., Shifa Medicine Hospital and Poly Clinic). Age range of the sample was 18 to 45 years. Attachment styles were assessed by Experience in Close Relationship Revised-Questionnaire (ECR-R) and death anxiety was assessed with Death Anxiety Scale. The findings revealed that there was significant positive correlation between attachment styles and death anxiety (p<0.05) and it was found that pregnant women scored low on secure attachment style. Younger pregnant women were high on preoccupied, fearful and dismissing attachment style as compare to older age pregnant women. Women with first pregnancy scored high on anxious, dismissing, and fearful attachment style as compare to women with second and third pregnancy. Pregnant women had pregnancy loss feel more death anxiety as compare to pregnant women with no history of pregnancy loss. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 22 (2): March 2021: 1-10.