Antibacterial activity of two plant extracts on eight burn pathogens

Antibacterial activity of crude alcoholic extract of Datura alba and Celosia argentea leaves were studied against pathogens isolated from infected burn patients. The disc-diffusion method showed significant zone of lysis against all the pathogens studied and the results are comparable to the conventional antibiotic cream namely Silver Sulphadiazine (SSD). On comparing the efficiency of the two extracts, extract of D. alba exhibited more than 50% increase in antibacterial activity compared to C. argentea. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.