A Preliminary Study on The Biological Activity of Daphne Mucronata Royle

Abstract: Antimicrobial and biological activity of leaves, stems and roots of Daphne mucronata Royle collected from abadeh in Fars province on June and September (2000) were studied. Antimicrobial and antifungal activity of the ethanolic extract of leave and stem of the plant were evaluated against four species of gram positive and gram negative bacteria and two fungi. They were active against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the effect on gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) was mostly in ethanolic extract of the roots of plant. The leaves and stems extract of the plant had no effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa even at high concentration. Antifungal activity was not observed in any part of the plant. Biological activity of the ethanolic extract of different parts of the plant was studied using Artemia salina (brine shrimp). LD50 values were determined in mg/ml. The most toxic effect was due to methanolic extract of leaves collected on September (LD50=403 mg/ml).