Abstract
Antimicrobial properties of Astragalus atropilosulus subsp. abyssinicus leaf extract were carried out against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi by detecting the zone of inhibition using agar well diffusion method. Fresh A. atropilosulus subsp. abyssinicus leaf extracts were prepared using various solvents (hot and cold water, acetone, ethanol, methanol, 1/1 ethanol/methanol, 1/1 ethanol/ acetone and 1/1 acetone/ methanol). Except the cold water extract, all extracts demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against all bacteria tested with inhibition zones in the range of 9.33-35.0 mm. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of different plant extracts against the tested bacteria were found to range from 12.50-17.5 mg/ml. Except the cold water extract, all extracts exhibited antifungal activity against Candida sp., Drechslera halodes, Fusarium oxysporum and Pythium ultimum with inhibition zone within the range of 6.56-20.3 mm. This study shows that leaf extracts of A. atropilosulus subsp. abyssinicus could be source of compounds, which can be used to combat pathogenic microorganisms.