Antibacterial, antifungal, pisicidal and cardiac activities of <i>Derris heyneana</i> (Wight & Arn.) Benth.

Abstract

<i>Derris heyneana</i> (Wight &amp; Arn) Benth. is a wild climber found in Sahyadri mountains in western India. This plant is less known and less studied; no comparative studies on this plant are currently available. In the present paper antibacterial, antifungal, piscicidal and cardiac activity of this plant are reported. Four Gram positive, four Gram negative and four fungal species were used for antibacterial and antifungal activities. <i>Haplochilus panchax</i> fish was used for piscicidal activity, and isolated frog heart (<i>Rana tigrina</i>) was used to find out cardiac activity comparing with Propranolol.<b> </b>The hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and stems exhibited good antibacterial and antifungal activity compared to Amoxicillin and Ketoconazole. Piscicidal activity for hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and stems was found to be significant and cardiac studies suggested <i><img src='/image/spc_char/beta.gif' border=0></i>-adrenergic blocking activity.