Antimicrobial activity of Lawsonia inermis (henna) extracts

Lawsonia inermis (henna) has been widely used over centuries for medication and cosmetics in some regions of the world. The leaves and seeds of henna are known for alleviating a number of skin diseases including fungal infections and cracks on feet. The plant parts were extracted using maceration method. The antimicrobial activities as well as phytochemical screening of aqueous, ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of leaves of Lawsonia inermis against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, albicans and Epidermophyton floccosum were investigated using the agar well diffusion method. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids and steroids in all the extracts. All tested isolates were susceptible to all the 1000μg/ml. The highest activities were observed in the aqueous extract of the plant against Staphylococcus aureus and Epidermophyton floccosum (19mm). While the standard drugs active against the same isolates at 20 μg/ml with zones of 28mm and The findings of this study suggest that Lawsonia inermis could serve as a potential antimicrobial agent and provide the basis for isolation and identification of biologically active constituents in these extracts.Key words: Lawsonia inermis, Henna, antimicrobial activity, clinical isolates, bacteria,fungi, Phytochemicals.