Antimicrobial Activity of Some Folk Medicinal Plants Used in Rajasthan Against Selected Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the antibacterial efficacy of methanol extracts of leaves and roots of B. diffusa, Eclipta alba, Phyllanthus niruri and Ricinus communis. Methods:The antimicrobial efficacy of methanol extracts of some medicinal plants was evaluated by agar well diffusion method against selected pathogenic bacterial strains. Gram+ve strains (S. aureus, B. subtilis) were tested and Gram-ve strains tested were (E. coli, S. typhii and K. pneumoniae). Antifungal activity against was tested.Results: B. diffusa and P. niruri leaf extract showed highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. typhii. Leaf extract of P. niruri and R. communis showed highest antifungal activity against A. niger and C. albicans respectively Conclusion:The methanolic leaf extracts of B. diffusa and P. niruri were highly active against S. aureus and S. typhii.

Assessment of Immunomodulatory Potential of an Ayurvedic Formulation, Nirocil Syrup in Wistar Rats

“…As far as the immunomodulatory property of these plants is concerned, P. niruri has scientifically been studied and evaluated in various clinical trials on infectious diseases, such as chronic hepatitis B [5,17], pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) [10,11,18,19], vaginitis [20], as well as varicella-zoster infection [21]. In such diseases, the effective immune system is crucial for the treatment and successful eradication of pathogens [19,22]. Ma'at (1996) reported the enhancement in activity and functioning of the immune system by P. niruri extract through stimulation of natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and decreased interleukin (IL-10) secretions.…”