Antibacterial and antifungal effects of indigenously grown stem and leaf extracts of
Tinaspara cardifolia – A preliminary study
Damel Lakshmi U¹,
Smiline Girija AS²,
Priyadarshini G¹,
Prasanna CC³,
Kayalvizhi E4
Chandrasekhar M4
¹Department of Physiology, ²Department of Microbiology, ³Central Research Laboratory, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College & Hospital, Maduravoyal, Chennai, 4Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Enathur, Kanchipuram
Abstract
- Background: Therapeutic modalities have inclined towards alternative medicine involving usage of herbs and plants as a source to treat chronic ailments. They are considered to be safe,efficacious and are less toxic when compared to chemically synthesized agents. In this context, Tinospora cordifolia (T. Cordifolia) tropical vine indigenous to India, Myanmar and Srilanka, has been immensely used in traditional medicine and Ayurvedic preparations. The emergence of drug resistant organisms and increasing drug toxicity are two major obstacles of the current treatment methods. Seeking an alternative drug with less toxicity and more efficacy is a safer option for society in the current scenario. Several studies have therefore been performed to elucidate the antimicrobial activity of T. Cordifolia.
- Aim: The present study was designed to demonstrate the antimicrobial property of methanolic,ethyl-acetate and hexane extracts of indigenously grown stem and leaf extracts of T. Cordifolia against common pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
- Materials and Methods: The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the crude extracts were assessed by agar well diffusion method. The minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC] and minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] were determined using microbroth dilution method followed by confirmation by Microbial Spot Checker board method.
- Results: The crude extracts of the plant showed promising activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Conclusion: This study revealed that the methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane extract of the leaf and stem of indigenously grown Tinospora cordiflora had promising activity against common pathogenic bacteria. Although the antimicrobial activity of this plant is established and has produced promising results when replicated in-vitro, further toxicity studies are warranted to provide concrete evidence about the safety of its extracts.
Keywords: agar well diffusion method, antibacterial activity, Tinospora cordifolia