Abstract :Abstract
Quisqualis indica is an impressive tropical ornamental vine. The present study was focused on elucidating the antibacterial potentiality of the crude extract and different solvent extracts of flowers of Q. indica using agar well diffusion method against pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Petroleum ether extractive of flowers showed the best result against the test bacteria. In case of gram positive bacteria S. aureus and B. subtilis inhibition zones of26 mm and 23 mm was seen respectively and in case ofgram negative bacteria20 mm and 22 mm of inhibition zonewas seen against E. coli and P. aeruginosa respectively at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. Secondary phytochemicals like alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids and phenols were detected. The MIC values were 27.0, 30.0, 38.0 and 40.0 µg/ml for S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis respectively. Hence the petroleum ether extract of Q. indica flowers may be treated as a novel source in producing effective antibacterial agent.