Antibacterial potential of some plants of traditional use in India against pathogenic strains of S. aureus

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate antibacterial sensitivity of 43 ethnomedicinally important plants belonging to 25 different families from Western Uttar Pradesh, a northern province in India, against hospital isolated pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Methods: Methanol (MeOH) and aqueous extracts of plants were subjected to sensitivity test against S. aureus ATCC 25953 and two hospital isolated virulent strains of S. aureus SA1 and SA2 following disc diffusion assay to determine sensitivity and agar dilution method to test minimum inhibition concentration using Mueller-Hinton agar. Results: Potential antibacterial activity was recorded for MeOH extracts against test pathogens, while moderate antibacterial activity was observed in case of aqueous extracts. Out of 43 plant species, 39 species were found sensitive to tested strains. Minimum inhibition concentration values of MeOH extracts were demonstrated at low concentration ranging from 15.5 mg/mL up to 45.5 mg/mL compared to aqueous extracts which were observed ranging from 30.0 mg/ mL up to 95.0 mg/mL. Conclusions: The present findings strongly support traditional uses of these plants in the treatment of infectious maladies and further urge of phytochemical and pharmacological research to develop safer and cheaper drugs for the benefit of ailing humanity.