Abstract

In recent years multiple drug resistance has been developed in many microbes due to indiscriminate use of existing antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of infectious diseases. This paves the way for reconsidering traditional medicine; hence a study was carried out to explore the antimicrobial activities of the acetone and ethanol extract of Acalypha indica and Ocimum basilicum against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Proteus sp. The results revealed that the ethanol extract of both the plants was more effective than acetone extract particularly on Proteus sp. Hence, both the plants can be vitally used in treating various diseases caused by those pathogens.

Key words: Acalypha indica, Ocimum basilicum, antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity.