Herbs have always been the principal source of medicine in India. Medicinal plants have curatives properties due to the presence of various complex chemical substances of different composition, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more of its parts. This study was designed to investigate the antibacterial activities of plants namely Ficus geniculata (Putkal), Cassia tora (Chakor), Madhuca indica (Mahua), Pongamia pinnata (Karanj), Boerhaavia diffusa (Punarnava), Ficus religiosa(Peepal) and Moringa oleifera (Senjana). The plant extracts were prepared in two solvents viz. water and methanol. These extracts were tested for its antimicrobial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods used to evaluate antimicrobial potential were agar well diffusion assay. Various concentrations of the extracts ranges upto 50mg/ml, 25mg/ml and 12.5mg/ml were prepared. The aqueous extract of Ficus religiosa at the concentration of 50mg/ml showed the highest inhibition zone as 1.3cm against E. coli. Preliminary results of antibacterial activity supported the traditional use of Ficus in folk medicine. These findings suggest a new pathway in elucidating a potential antibacterial agent from Ficus religiosa
