XVI International Botanical Congess

Development of resistance to the standard antimicrobials urge the development of new antimicrobials from natural sources. The shade dried flowers of Calendula officinalis Linn.(Compositae) were powdered and exhaustively extracted with various organic solvents in Soxhelt extractor.The extracts were concentrated to dryness in vacuo.The in vitro antimicrobial activity of Calendula officinalis flower extracts have been investigated by agar cup plate method. The petroleum ether (60-800) and chloroform extract showed significant growth inhibition of S.aureus, S.aureus coagulase positive, B. subtilis, B.cereus, B.stearothermo-phillus, E. coli, V. cholerae, S. typhi, P. aeruginosa.In addition to this,the acetone extract inhibited the growth of S.aureus,S.aureus coagulase positive,B.subtilis, B. cereus, B.stearothermophillus while ethanol (95%) extract inhibited the growth of B.subtilis, B. cereus, B.stearothermophillus, V. cholerae and S. typhi.The degree of growth inhibition was comparable with ampicillin and tetracycline, the standardantibiotics employed.