Cuscuta reflexa is a parasitic plant having many medicinal properties and used as traditional medicine in Ayurveda for the treatment of various disorders. In the present research work, researchers have investigated antimicrobial ability of C. reflexa with Nerium oleander host plant successive extracts against selected human pathogenic bacteria. Escherichia coli (MTCC 730), Proteus vulgaris (MTCC 1771), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 7443), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC121) and Pseudomonas aeroginosa (MTCC 4673) were used as the test pathogens. Hot extraction technique was used to prepare the plant extracts. Antimicrobial activity was tested using disc diffusion method. Chloroform extract of C. reflexa with N. oleander host plant showed maximum activity against B. subtilis (20 mg/disc; IZ = 27 mm, AI = 1.35), (10 mg/disc; IZ = 25 mm, AI = 1.3) which is more than the standard disc tetracycline. Chloroform extract also showed appreciable activity against P. vulgaris and P. aeroginosa. Ethyl acetate extract also showed maximum activity against P. aeroginosa (20 mg/disc; IZ = 16 mm, AI = 1.14) and E. coli (5 mg/disc; IZ = 22 mm, AI = 1.1). Chloroform extract and ethyl acetate extract of C. reflexa with N. oleander host plant is capable to inhibit the growth of E. coli, B. subtilis and P. aeroginosa effectively. Therefore, these extracts can also be used for the isolation of pure compounds/volatile compounds with potentials to be used as therapeutics.

Keywords: Cuscuta reflexa, parasitic plant, antimicrobial activity, medicinal plants.