Antibacterial activity of black pepper (Piper nigrum Linn.) with special reference to its mode of action on bacteria.

Results indicate excellent inhibition on the growth of Gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Bacillus cereus and Streptococcus faecalis, and among the Gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more susceptible followed by Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli.