eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 0973-1245 2026-05-21 23 2 58932 article Samta Mahyavanshi 1 Saklain Mustak Saiyad 2 Nisha Daxini 2 Hiren Soni 1 Department of Environmental Science and Technology (EST), Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), The Charutar Vidya Mandal (CVM) University, Gujarat, India. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), The Charutar Vidya Mandal (CVM) University, Gujarat, India. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of crude methanolic extracts from twelve medicinal plants traditionally used to treat gynecological diseases. An ethno-gynecological survey identified plants commonly used for treating reproductive ailments, and their extracts were screened against common clinical pathogens, Escherichia coli ATCC 23716 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, using the agar well diffusion method. Extracts were tested at four different concentrations (0.25 mg/mL–1 mg/mL) and compared with the standard antibiotic amikacin. A concentration-dependent increase in antibacterial activity was observed for several plants. Pterocarpus marsupium showed the highest inhibition against E. coli ATCC 23716 (6±0 mm), whereas Buchanania cochinchinensis, Dregea volubilis, Pueraria tuberosa, and Piliostigma malabaricum exhibited no activity. Against S. aureus ATCC 6538, Buchanania cochinchinensis displayed the strongest inhibition (9±0 mm), while Ougeinia dalbergioides showed minimal activity (2±0 mm). The findings support the traditional use of selected ethnomedicinal plants and highlight species with promising antibacterial potential. These results justify further research on the phytochemical components, mechanisms of action, and potential development of plant-based antibacterial agents targeting reproductive tract pathogens. https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol23no2/evaluation-of-antibacterial-activity-of-ethno-gynecological-medicinal-plants-against-escherichia-coli-and-staphylococcus-aureus/ Agar well diffusion; Antibacterial; Escherichia coli; Ethno-gynecology; Medicinal plants; Staphylococcus aureus