Biological screening of polarity based extracts of leaves and seeds of Sisymbrium irio L

Different solvent extracts of leaves and seeds of sisymbrium irio were tested against human pathogenic bacterial (staphylococcus aureus,streptococcus epidermidis,escherichia coli,escherichia coli gravitus,klebsella pneumonia and pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal strains (fusarium oxysporium and aspergillus flavus). antibacterial and antifungal activities were performed by using agar well diffusion method and tube dilution methods,respectively. minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) was calculated by using serial dilution method. the susceptibility pattern of microbes varied with the change in solvent polarity and type of plant part used. the chloroform crude extract of seeds proved potent against all tested bacterial strains except e. coli g. the methanolic crude extract of both leaves and seeds showed superior antibacterial activities than other solvents used for extraction. the leaves n-hexan crude extract was inactive against a. flavus and f. oxysporium while seeds extract did well against them. seeds extracts proved potent antifungal irrespective of the solvent polarity except seed extract in water. this research will be helpful for the isolation of bioactive compounds and drug development. © 2015,pakistan botanical society. all rights reserved.