GENERAL ARTICLE
MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY: AN OVERVIEW 1
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Research Associate, Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd., Aluva, 2Vocational Teacher in Livestock Management, GVHSS, Chengannur, 3Veterinary Surgeon, Veterinary Dispensary, Mooniyur
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ornamental tree with beautiful bunches of yellow flowers. It is popularly known as Kani konna in Malayalam. The plant has a high therapeutic value and it exerts an antipyretic and analgesic effect. Besides, it has been found to exhibit antiinflammatory and hypoglycaemic activity and it is widely used as a mild laxative. In the Indian literature, this plant has been described to be useful against skin diseases and liver troubles. The leaf extract is also indicated for its anti-tussive and wound healing properties. Cassia fistula has been checked for its activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis E. coli and a few field isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus anthracis, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, and Salmonella typhi and the results were promising. It should be noted that the alcoholic extract showed greater inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus compared to aqueous extract. One chloramphenicol resistant field isolate of Staphylococcus aureus too was susceptible to alcoholic extract of Cassia fistula (Vimalraj et al., 2009). Emblica officinalis Popularly known as Nellikai, Emblica officinalis is also named as Amla, or Indian gooseberry. The species is native to India and also grows in tropical and subtropical regions. The fruits of Emblica are widely used in the Ayurveda and are believed to increase defense against diseases. It has its beneficial role in cancer, diabetes, liver treatment, heart trouble, ulcer, anaemia and various other diseases. Similarly, it has application as antioxidant, immunomodulator, antipyretic, analgesic, cytoprotective, antitussive and gastroprotective. It is also helpful in neutralizing snake venom and as an antimicrobial. It has been reported to posses potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. ozaenae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella
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Medicinal plants form the backbone of traditional system of medicine in India. Even before the advent of modern ethno pharmacology, Indians had been using a multitude of plants for the treatment of various diseases. It is estimated that in India, about 2500 species of plants are used for medicinal purposes and about 90 per cent of the medicinal plants provide raw materials for the herbal pharmaceuticals (Rajasekharan and Ganeshan, 2002). In the recent times, the fledgling science is spawning wide spread interest among researchers. The plant preparations are preferred to synthetic drugs due to their apparent lower incidence of adverse reactions and being cost effective. This escalating buzz in ethnopharmacological research reflects recognition of the validity of many traditional claims regarding the value of natural products in health care. Medicinal plants are rich source of novel chemical moieties that form the ingredients in traditional systems of medicine, modern medicine, nutraceuticals, food supplements and lead compounds in synthetic drugs. Indiscriminate use of synthetic drugs has evoked multiple drug resistance against the pathogenic microorganisms of animals as in the case of humans. This necessitates the discovery of novel bioactive phyto-compounds in the treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic organisms. Following the footsteps of human medicine, veterinary medicine is also slowly embracing safe, having fewer side effects, cost effective and eco-friendly ethno medicine. This article addresses some of the common plants having antimicrobial property with various other pharmacological effects and with prospects for extensive use in Veterinary clinical practice. Cassia fistula Cassia fistula, a semi-wild Indian Labernum also known as the Golden Shower, native to India, is an
December 2010
Bibu J.K. , Rajagopal R. and Sureshbabu T. Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd., Aluva