The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2014;3(2):102-112 ; DOI:10.31254/phyto.2014.3205
Identification and characterization of medicinally important plants of Kangra valley with synergistic effects of traditional antibiotics against microbial infections
Vikas Sharma1 , Rishma1 , Kuldeep Kaur1
1. Department of Biotechnology, Arni university, Kathgarh, Indora 176401, Himachal Pradesh, India
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
The use of traditional medicine to treat infection has been practiced since the origin of mankind. In present scenario, the increasing and indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics. To overcome this, the synergistic effect from the combination of antibiotics with plant extracts against resistant microbes may leads to new ways of treating infectious diseases. This study has been done to evaluate the synergetic effect of common medicinal plants of Kangra valley with traditional antibiotics (Tetracycline, Gentamicin, Streptomycin and Ampicillin). The leaves of different plants i.e Adhatoda vasica (Vasaka), Ficus carica (Fig), Calotropis gigantea (Milkweed), were collected and powdered leaves were extracted successively with methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and water in soxhlet extractor. Antimicrobial potential of these extract was tested alone and in combination with antibiotics against five bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) and two fungal strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus brasiliensis) by well diffusion method. Many combinations showed almost double increased effect like methanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica and ampicillin showed synergistic effect against S. aureus whereas methanolic extract of Ficus carica showed synergistic effect with gentamycin and tetracyclin against E.coli and S. aureus. However many combinations do not showed any synergistic effect. Study will help to lay the foundation of searching new antimicrobials and alternatives that are helpful for treating infectious diseases without imparting ill effects and documents the antimicrobial potential of common plants.
Antimicrobial, Medicinal plants, Synergistic effects, Infectious diseases, Antibiotics.
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