Evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal activity of artemisia annua during pre and post flowering stages

Artemisia annua L., a medicinal herb, produces secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties. The purpose of this study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of ethanol, methanol and hexane extracts of Artemisia annua during different flowering stages against bacterial species (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella dysenteriae and Staphylococcus areus) and fungal species (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus). The zone of inhibition was calculated. Results indicate that the different concentrations of various extracts under study exhibit antimicrobial activity among different microorganisms. When compare to bacterial and fungal species, bacterial species showed highest zone of inhibition. At post flowering stages of the plant, maximum zone of inhibition was observed when compare to pre flowering stage of the plant.