Antimicrobial activity of Pancratium maritimum

In vitro antimicrobial activity of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the bulbs and aerial parts of Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae) was determined by using the disc diffusion technique. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was screened against seven bacterial strains including Escherichia coli ATCC 11230, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-P, Salmonella typhimurium CCM 5445, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047, Pseudomonas aeroginosa ATCC 27853 and the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans ATCC 10239. Some of the extracts were found to inhibit the growth of certain Gram(+) and Gram(-) bacteria. Only the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts were active against Candida albicans.