Pure bacterial strains used for the study were procured from
the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture,
Annamalai University. They were S. aureus, S. typhi, K. pneumoniae,
E. coli and P. vulgaris. Separate sterile nutrient agar
slants were prepared and the bacterial strains were individually
inoculated into separate slants under aseptic conditions and
incubated at 37 C for 24 h. Colonies were harvested separately
under aseptic condition from the slants and individually
inoculated into sterile nutrient broths in separate test tubes
and kept in refrigerated condition.