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Calendula officinalis flowers were collected from the local market of Bhopal, M.P. to examine their
antibacterial activity. The effect of aqueous, acetone and methanol extracts of petals of flowers was
assayed in vitro on five bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, E. coli, Klebsiella
spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginos. All the extracts were found to show good antibacterial activity as
clear growth inhibition zone were seen in all the inoculated plates. Staphylococcus aureus gave 26
mm, 15 mm and 14 mm growth inhibition zone with methanol, acetone and aqueous extract
respectively. Bacillus cereus gave 10 mm, 16 mm, and 13.5 mm growth inhibition zone with
methanol, acetone and aqueous extract respectively. E. coli gave 8.5 mm, 14 mm and 8 mm growth
inhibition zone with methanol, acetone and aqueous extract respectively. Klebsiella spp gave 6 mm,
6.5 mm and 10 mm growth inhibition zone with methanol, acetone and aqueous extract respectively.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa gave 8.5 mm, 10 mm and 8 mm growth inhibition zone with methanol,
acetone and aqueous extract respectively. These results confirm the antibacterial activity of
Calendula officinalis flowers and support the traditional use of the plant in the therapy of bacterial
infections.
Keywords: Antibacterial, Calendula officinalis, infection, methanol