ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF HYOPHILA INVOLUTA MOSS

The frequency of life-threatening infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms has increased worldwide and is becoming an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients in developing countries. These bacterial infections have a large impact on public health, however, bacterial resistance to antimicrobials is a rapidly growing problem with potentially devastating consequences. In the last decade, with more intensive studies for natural therapies, plants are used for treatment of various diseases especially skin problems and wounds. There has been continuous search for plants having antimicrobial activity, due to a growing concern about increased rate of infection caused by antibiotic resistant micro-organisms. Bryophytes chemical composition is increasingly growing, as high number of biologically-active compounds recently have been found in mosses and liverworts. Hyophila involuta possessed some active ingredients that can be of pharmaceutical importance, as well as exhibiting antimicrobial property on some pathogenic microorganism Many bryophytes have been assessed for secondary metabolites, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Many phytochemicals contribute towards the antibiotic properties of bryophytes against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Key words: Antibacterial activity, bryophytes, Hyophila involuta, zone of inhibition