PERERA, PAVN2011-02-142011-02-1420032003PERERA, PAVN, A Study antimicrobial properties of soap containing Coscinium fenestratum (Wenival), University of Colombo UC(SCI), 2003: p.http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/129622Dissertation: M.Sc., University of Colombo: UC(SCI), 2003.A study was undertaken to assess antimicrobial properties of soap containing stem bark of Coscinium fenestratum (Menispermacea) inorder to establish the possibility of using in cosmetic formulations as antiseptic substance. The methanolic extract of C.fenestratum and the major alkaloid isolated as berberine hydrochlorid were tested for antimicrobial activities against staphylococcus aureus, Closteridium sporogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton metegrophytes and Microsporum gypseum in vitro by the agar diffusion method. MICs were determined for the bacterial and fungi species using agar dilution method. Three soap formulas were prepared incorporating 10, 5 and 2 powdered stemof C.fenestratum and investigated antimicrobial properties against bacterial and fungi species.The methanol extract of C.fenestratum and its alkaloid berberine (hydrochloride) revealed selective inhibitory action on aerobic bacteria. The anerobic bacteria of Clostridium sporogenes showed strong inhibitory effect with MICs of 0.10 mg/ml and 0.22 mg/ml for the methanol extract and berberine hydreochloride respectively and these values were significantly lower than that obtained for the other aerobic organisms tested. The MIC of berberine hydrochloride was 0.21 mg/mll for the gram positive aerobic bacterium of staphylococcus aureus.en-USUniversity of Colombo, UC(SCI): Sri Lanka HELLIS NetworkPlants, medicinalAntifungal Agents-pharmacologyPlants, Medicinal-chemistryAnti-Bacterial Agents-pharmacologyPlant Extracts-pharmacologyAnti-Infective Agents-pharmacologyThesis