The Antibiotic Activity of Extracts of Ranunculaceae

Abstract

Pressed juice from fresh stems, leaves and blossoms of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) was diluted with an equal wt. of dist. water and the juice pressed through gauze and autoclaved. Its pH was 6.5. A distillate of pH 7.1 was obtained by steam distillation of juice. Blood-agar plates were streaked with broth cultures of organisms and Oxford cups with the test substs. were added. After 24 hrs. at 37[degree]C the size of the zone of inhibition was measured. The juice inhibited the growth of selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic cocci and bacilli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 3 yeasts, 2 of which are potential human pathogens.