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8338092 
Journal Article 
Antimicrobial assay of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf extracts against 10 pathogens 
Ghosh, S; Subudhi, E; Nayak, S 
2008 
Yes 
International Journal of Integrative Biology
ISSN: 0973-8363 
International Journal of Integrative Biology 
2 
1 
27-31 
English 
With an objective of understanding the antimicrobial potential of Stevia rebaudiana (popularly called as Stevia and synonymously known as ‘sugar substitute’ belongs to family Asteraceae), chemical extracts from its leaves were subjected to microbial assay using six solvents against ten selected pathogenic as well as food spoiling fungal (Alternaria solani, Helminthosporium solani, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum) and pathogenic bacterial (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus) isolates. 250μg/ml of petroleum ether extract (minimum inhibitory concentration) was found sufficient enough to inhibit the growth of test microorganism E.coli completely in petriplates (by plate dilution method). S. aureus amongst bacteria and P. chrysogenum amongst fungi exhibited highest range of susceptibility against four extracts namely; water, petroleum ether, cyclo-hexane, and chloroform but B. subtilis was found to have highest resistance to all except petroleum ether and acetone extract. Highest antifungal index (AfI-15mm) and antibacterial index (AbI-11.2mm) was obtained for petroleum ether extract against all pathogens signifying its best antimicrobial potentiality but ethanol and cyclo-hexane extracts were proved to be least effective (lowest AbI and AfI). Invariably cyclo-hexane, acetone and ethanol did not show anti fungal activity except demonstrating selective inhibition to specific microorganisms P. chrysogenum 8.0mm), A. solani (7.0mm) and A. niger (9.0mm) respectively. The above findings support the idea that plant extracts of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves may have a role to be used as pharmaceuticals and/or preservatives. © IJIB, All rights reserved. 
Anti bacterial index; Anti fungal index; Antimicrobial property; Plant extracts; Stevia rebaudiana bertoni