Aim: The search for new and effective therapeutic agents has increased due to alarming increase in the antiobiotic resistant strains of microorganisms. The twigs of Ficus bengalensis L., an important medicinal plant of Indian System of Medicinewhich belongs to family Moraceae, was investigated for invitro antibacterial activity. Method: The antimicrobial activity of twigs of Ficus benghalensis L. againstcommon oral pathogens was assessed usingvarious solvents extract like aqueous, methanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether. The extracts were subjected for antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus mitis, Prevotella species and Candida albicans at 125 mg/ml, 250mg/ml and 500mg/ml concentration by disc diffusion method. Result: The methanol extract at a concentration of 500mg/ml exhibited good antimicrobial activity compared to other extracts. The aqueous extract and dichloromethane extract of Ficus bengalensis did not show any antimicrobial activity at any tested concentration. Conclusion: The antimicrobial activity of Ficus benghalensis L. twigs can be exploited for developing a novel antimicrobial agent. The findings of this study suggest new pathway in elucidating a potent antimicrobial agent from Ficus bengalensis L. against oral pathogens namely Lactobacillus species, Prevotella species, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus mutans.
Key words: Antiobiotic resistant strains, Antimicrobial Activity, Ficus benghalensis L.

Corresponding author: Dr. Soniya Adyanthaya, Reader, Dept of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Yenepoya Dental College, Nithyananda Nagar, Derlakatte, Mangalore-575018, Karnataka, India

This article may be cited as: Adyanthaya S, Pai V, Jose M. Analysis of Antimicrobial Activity of Ficus bengalensis L.: An in Vitro Study. Int J Res Health Allied Sci 2018;4(1):74-77.