Antimicrobial Property of Picrorhiza kurroa Against Multi-Drug Resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

As per the current scenario of weakened immune systems in humans and inadequate usage of antibiotics, the infections came out as serious medical conditions and pathogens, especially bacteria causing urinary tract infections to have gained resistance. To combat this, the bioactive and antimicrobial properties of healing herbs have gained the limelight. Likewise, Picrorhiza kurroa, a famous traditional and local drug in the higher Himalayan region, is used for antimicrobial treatments and partial sanitation of air by the tribes, including Ayurveda scientists. This study was done on the urine sample of a 78-year-old UTI patient, the successive pathological tests revealed the acute infected condition, and further microbiological analysis of the urine sample diagnosed the presence of pathogenic E. coli in large numbers, which was further detected to be multiple drug-resistant (MDR) by antibiotic sensitivity tests. The plant extract through the methanol extraction method of Picrorhiza kurroa roots was subjected to antimicrobial assay against the isolated pathogen E. coli by well diffusion method. The MDR E. coli was found to be highly sensitive against the plant extract indicating 23 mm microbial inhibition zone, which proves the description of Kedar Jadi as an antimicrobial drug mentioned in Charak Samhita; furthermore, this can lead to the preparation of drugs and addition in combating against acute MDR bacterial infections.