Evaluation of In vitro antimicrobial activity and release behaviour of ointments and applications containing extract of the lichen Ramalina farinaceae (L.) ach

The extract of the lichen Ramalina farinacea was obtained via cold maceration with methanol. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the methanolic extract against Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined using the agar diffusion method. Ointments and applications were prepared with the extract using three different concentration levels (MIC, 2MIC and 4MIC of the extract against C. albicans). The antimicrobial and release properties of the applications and ointments were evaluated against the various test organisms (B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, S. typhi, A. niger, C. albicans, Klebseilla spp and P. aeroginosa) using the agar diffusion technique. Results revealed that S. aureus was the most sensitive organism while P. aeruginosa was most resistant to the lichen extract. The application was generally better, in terms of rapidity of action of extract than the ointment. The application performed better than the control (Cannex cream containing Clotrimazole) against bacteria; the reverse was true against the fungi. Overall, the anitmicrobial activity of both the application and the ointment was found to be concentration dependent.Keywords: Ramalina farnacea, extract, antimicrobial activity, release behaviour, ointments and applicationsPlant Products Research Journal Vol. 9 2005: 6-1