Comparative study on the antibacterial potential of some medicinal plants commonly used in Indian traditional medicine for the treatment of microbial infections.
Chattopadhyay R. R., Bhattacharyya S. K., Medda C.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203, Barrackpore Trunk Road, Kolkata - 700 108, India.
Biomed 3 : 202-209
Abstract : A comparative in vitro antibacterial potential of extracts (aqueous and ethanol) of five important medicinal plants (Aegle marmelos, Azadirachta indica, Terminalia chebula, Mangifera indica and Ocimum sanctum) of importance in the Ayurvedic system of traditional medicine used in India to treat common microbial infections were investigated using microbial growth inhibition assay methods against common pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) of clinical origin. It was observed that all the plant materials showed varying degrees of strain specific inhibitory action against the strains evaluated. Among the five plants used, ethanolic extract of two plants namely T. chebula and A. marmelos were found to have the strong antibacterial activity against all the strains tested. The percentage of inhibition of the plant extracts against the test strains with respect to reference standard antibiotic Gentamycin ranged from 19% to 95%. On the basis of the of inhibitory zone diameter (IZD), minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), MICindex and total activity values against the test strains our data indicate that ethanolic extract of T. chebula had a wider spectrum and a superior antibacterial potential against common pathogenic bacteria followed by A. marmelos. The results suggest that T. chebula and A. marmelos are potential candidate plants for the treatment of common bacterial infections caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and reinforce the importance of ethnomedical approach as a potential source of bioactive compounds.