Augmentation of anti-bacterial efficacy of Augmentin- an antibiotic by Foeniculum vulgare extract

Abstract

Plant extracts in combination with antibiotics propose an innovative approach to treat a number of infectious diseases. Present research was carried out to evaluate the anti-bacterial activity of hexane, methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of water extract from Foeniculum vulgare in combination with antibiotic Augmentin. Plant extract and anti-bacterial (Augmentin) were used as control. For anti-bacterial assay, agar well diffusion method was used against selected bacterial strains i.e. Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Brucella melitensis. Results showed that methanolic and ethyl acetate fractions, in combination with antibiotic, increased its efficiency against P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, n-hexane fraction, in combination with antibiotic, increased the efficiency of antibiotic against Bacillus sp. The results of each fraction confirmed that active substances of plant were involved in augmentation of antibiotic. Methanolic and ethyl acetate fractions were found to be rich in phenolics while n-hexane fraction was rich in terpenes. The results provided support for F. vulgare to be used in traditional medicines for the treatment of various infectious diseases and for commercial level augmentation of antibiotics to produce new antibiotics.