Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of a herbal mixture

Abstract

Due to adverse effects of using allopathic medicines, the use and search for pharmaceuticals made from plants has increased recently. A mixture of herbal extracts known as “Chukku Kashaya” is widely used as home remedy in Kerala for respiratory disorders. Additionally, it relieves cold and fever symptoms. The present investigation focused on evaluating the antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts obtained by soxhlet extraction of leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum and Plectranthus amboinicus and fruits of Piper nigrum and rhizome of Zingiber officinalae and their combination in equal ratios and their activity was determined using agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive), Klebsiella pneumoniae (gram negative), and Pseudomonas aeruginosae (gram negative). Streptomycin was used as positive control. Zingiber officinalae showed maximum zone of inhibition against all the bacteria and herbal mixture showed moderate zone of inhibition. The mixture was more active than Ocimum tenuiflorum , Piper nigrum and Plectranthus amboinicus. Staphylococcus aureus was shown to be the most sensitive to all the extracts and herbal mixtures, whereas Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the least activity. Though Z.officinalae has higher antimicrobial activity, there is limited literature support to prove its activity against fever, cold and other symptoms of respiratory tract infections. Z.officinalae is mainly used for GI related disorders. This herbal blend is more efficient because it includes of O.tenuiflorum : having antipyretic, analgesic and voice improving activity ; P.amboinicus: providing relief from cough, asthma, bronchitis and other symptoms of respiratory tract infections; P. nigrum which can improve appetite and digestion .