www.ijpsonline.

com

of plant extract and essential oils for antifungal activity against Botrytis
cinerea. Plant Disease 1997;81:204-10.
2. Reinhard J, Srivivasan MV, Zhang S. Scent-triggered navigation in
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advances and future perspectives. Crit Rev Plant Sci 2006;25:417-40.
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New Delhi: Sri Satguru publications; 1999. p. 60.
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Plants. Vol. 3. New Delhi: Publications and Information Directorate,
CSIR; 1993. p. 527
11. De-Moreas CM, Mescheer MC, Tomlinson JH. Caterpillar-
induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel nonspecific females. Nature
2001;410:577-80.
12. Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV. Antifungal activity of the
components of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. J Appl Microbiol
2003;95:853-60.
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1. New Delhi: Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR; 1993.
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14. Pawar VC, Thaker VS. Evaluation of the anti-Fusarium oxysporum f.
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essential oils against five important food-borne pathogen. Lett Appl
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Accepted 27 March 2009
Revised 31 December 2008
Received 27 May 2008
Indian J. Pharm. Sci., 2009, 71 (2): 134-136

Antibacterial Activity of Medicinal Plants Against

Pathogens causing Complicated Urinary Tract Infections
ANJANA SHARMA*, S. CHANDRAKER, V. K. PATEL AND PADMINI RAMTEKE
Bacteriology Laboratory, Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Biological Sciences, R. D. University,
Jabalpur-482 001, India

Sharma, et al.: Antibacterial activity of medicinal plants against complicated UTI

Seventeen Indian folklore medicinal plants were investigated to evaluate antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanol
and acetone extracts against 66 multidrug resistant isolates of major urinary tract pathogens (Escherichia coli,
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis) by disc diffusion method. Ethanol extract
of Zingiber officinale and Punica granatum showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Ethanol
extracts of Terminalia chebula and Ocimum sanctum exhibited antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Ethanol extract of Cinnamomum cassia showed maximum antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
while ethanol extract of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum sanctum exhibited antibacterial activity against Enterococcus
faecalis. The results support the folkloric use of these plants in the treatment of urinary tract infections by the tribals
of Mahakoshal region of central India.

Key words: Urinary tract infection (UTI), multidrug resistant, antibacterial activity, Indian medicinal plants

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are most common form their lifespan [1,2]. The pathogenesis of complicated
of bacterial infections, affecting people throughout and uncomplicated UTI is complex and influenced by
many host biological behavioral factors and properties
*Address for correspondence of the infecting uropathogens. Leading etiological
E-mail: anjoo1999@gmail.com agents of UTI’s include Escherichia coli, Candida

136 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences March - April 2009

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albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus
mirabilis[3]. The incidence of acute uncomplicated UTI
is estimated to exceed 0.5 episodes per annum among
women between 18-30 y[4]. Despite the existence of
potent antibiotics, resistant or multiresistant strains
are continuously appearing, imposing the need for
a permanent search and development of new drugs.
For Centuries plants have been used throughout the
world as drugs and remedies for various diseases[5].
These drugs serve as prototype to develop more
effective and less toxic medicines. Hence, an attempt
has been made to evaluate antibacterial activity of
seventeen folklore medicinal plants used by tribals
in Mahakoshal region of central India against urinary
tract pathogens.
Plant parts were collected on the basis of the
information provided in the ethanobotanical survey
of India and local medicine men of Mahakoshal
region (MP), India. Each specimen/plant material
was labeled, numbered, annoted with the date of
collection, locality and their medicinal uses were
recorded (Table 1). Fresh plant material was washed
thoroughly, air dried and then homogenized to fine
powder and stored in airtight containers[6].
Plant material (10 g) was extracted with 100 ml
distilled water by subjecting it slow heat for 6 h;
filtered through muslin cloth and centrifuged at
5000×g for 15 min. The supernatant was collected
and concentrated to one-fourth of the total volume[7].
Organic solvent extraction of the plant materials were
prepared according to the method described by Nair et
al.[7] with some modifications. 10 g of plant material
was crushed and blended into powder using an
electric blender with each organic solvent i.e ethanol
and acetone separately. The blended material was
subjected to agitation on rotary shaker (190-220 rpm)
for 30 min, filtered with muslin cloth; centrifuged
(5000×g for 15 min), and concentrated to one-fourth
of the total volume.
The test organisms included the gram-positive
E. faecalis (7 isolates) and gram-negative E. coli
(34 isolates), K. pneumoniae (15 isolates), and P.
aeruginosa (10 isolates). All the 66 UTI isolates
were obtained from the bacterial germplasm culture
collection, Bacteriology laboratory, R. D. University,
Jabalpur, India. The bacteria were grown in the
nutrient broth at 37° and maintained on nutrient agar
slants at 4°.
In vitro antibacterial activity was examined for
aqueous, ethanol and acetone extracts from 17
different traditionally used medicinal plants.
Antimicrobial activities of these extracts were
evaluated by Agar disc diffusion method [8]. For all
the bacterial strains, overnight cultures grown in
broth were adjusted to an inoculum size of 106 CFU/
ml for inoculation of the agar plates [9]. A lawn of
UTI bacterial culture[10] was made on Mueller Hinton
agar plates and sterile filter paper discs soaked with
10 µl (concentration 50 mg/ml) each of aqueous,

TABLE 1: SELECTED INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

Plant Species and common name Family Part used Medicinal uses
Z. officinale (Adrak) Zingiberaceae Rhizome Analgesic, sedative, antipyretic and antibacterial
C. cassia (Dalchini) Lauraceae Bark Antibacterial, circulatory, respiratory, uterotonic and stomachic
T. chebula (Harrah) Combretaceae Fruit Laxative, stomachic, tonic and alternative
P. ovata (Isabgol) Plataginaceae Husk Constipation, colitis, irritable bowel, cystitis
A. nilotica (Babool) Fabaceae Leaf Treating premature ejaculation
P. anisum (Saunph) Apiaceae Seed Antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive,
galactogogue, pectoral, stimulant
C. asiatica (Brahmi) Apiaceae Stem Tonic, sedative, alterative
O. sanctum (Tulsi) Laminaceae Leaf Cures cough, cold, chronic, catarrh, nausea, respiratory
problem, skin diseases, antibacterial
A. indica (Neem) Meliaceae Fruit Skin disease, blood disorder, antibacterial
P. fraternus (Bhumiamla) Euphorbiaceae Leaf Jaundice, liver disease, fever, genitourinary disease, edema
C. sativum (Dhana) Apiaceae Seed Flatulence, colic, joint pain, antiseptic
A. indicum (Atibala) Malvaceae Stem Demulcent, aphrodisiac, laxative, astringent and diuretic,
expectorant, antiinflammatory and analgesic
P. granatum (Anar) Lythraceae Seed Anthelminthic (esp. tapeworm), diarrhea, dyspepsia
S. cumini (Jamun) Myrtaceae Bark Astringent, stomachic, carminative, antiscorbutic, diuretic
C. scariosus (Nagarmotha) Cyperaceae Root Astringent, diaphoretic, desiccant, cordial and stomachic
A. paniculata (Kalmegh) Acanthaceae Bark Laxative, vulnerary, antipyretic, antiperiodic, antiinflammatory,
expectorant, depurative, antibacterial
M. indica (Aam) Anacardiaceae Leaf Supplement of sexual potency, antiallergic, hypoglycaemic and
antidiabetic

March - April 2009 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 137

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ethanol and acetone extract was placed on it. Disc the inhibition of 14 mm zone size (fig. 1). Similar
soaked in distilled water, ethanol and acetone served results were observed by previous scientist against
as control. Following an incubation period of 24 h at pathogenic bacteria[11-14]. Ethanol extracts of T. chebula
370, antibacterial activity was evaluated by inhibition and O. sanctum were found to be active with the
zones of bacterial growth. The results are represented inhibition of 16 mm against K. pneumoniae (fig. 2)
as average zone of inhibition of all the isolates of while ethanol extract of C. cassia showed significant
individual species. activity with 18 mm of clear inhibition zone against
P. aeruginosa (fig. 3). Previous reports from china
Fifty-one aqueous, ethanol and acetone extracts have revealed that various parts of C. cassia such as
of the plant belonging to 17 families were tested the fruit, oil, inner bark and leafy twigs possessed
against gram-positive and gram-negative urinary good antimicrobial activity. The ethanol extract of C.
tract pathogenic bacteria. Ethanolic extract showed asiatica and O. sanctum show broad-spectrum activity
considerably more activity than the acetone and against E. faecalis with the inhibition zone of 19
aqueous extract. Maximum antibacterial activity was mm (fig. 4). Best antimicrobial activity was found in
shown by ethanol extract of Z. officinale, P. granatum case of ethanol extract of Z. officinale, P. granatum,
and acetone extract of T. chebula against E. coli with T. chebula, O. sanctum, C. cassia, C. asiatica and
20
16
18

Inhibition zone (mm)

Inhibition zone (mm)

14 16
12 14
10 12
8 10
6 8
4 6
4
2 2
0 0
a

ica
A. cari ni
P . bul a

fra i ca

nic s
C . i nale
ch a

A. tum

gra um

M. ul ata
a si m
san a

S. tum
A. vata

nic s

ica
P. bul a

A. cari ini
fra i ca
C. i nale
ch a

M. l ata
A. ctum

gra cum
sa us
asi m
san ca
pe osu

P . n di m

S tum
P. l oti c

C . t ernu

ni a
T. assi

O . at ic

pe osu
P. l oti c
i
C . nisu

T. cassi
A. ti vu

A. ovat
C . um

C. nisu

A. ti vu
i nd

C. t ern
O . at i
P. ind

P . di c

C . . cu m

i nd
P. ind
c

na
e

na

u
o

e
ff ic
c

ff ic
ni

c
sa
a

a
i

i
Z .o

Z.o

s
Plant extracts in different solvents Plant extracts in different solvents
Fig. 1: Antibacterial activity of plant extracts against Escherichia coli. Fig. 3: Antibacterial activity of plant extracts against Pseudomonas
Antibacterial activity of aqueous ( ), ethanol ( ) and acetone aeruginosa.
( ) extracts of plants against Escherichia coli Antibacterial activity of aqueous ( ), ethanol ( ) and acetone
( ) extracts of plants against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

18 20
18
Inhibition zone (mm)

16
Inhibition zone (mm )

16
14 14
12 12
10 10
8 8
6 6
4 4
2 2
0 0

e a a a a s i s a
al si ul ta ic um ica um ic u um um um in su ata ic
a

nic s
P. bul a

ica
A. cari ini
fra i ca
C. nale
ch a

A tum

M. l ata
gra um
s
asi m
san ca

S. tum
A. vata

pe osu
C. t ernu
P. l oti c
T. cassi

in cas eb ova il ot nis iat nct ind t ern tiv dic nat um ri o cul i nd
C. nisu

A. ti vu
O . at i

C . um

i nd
P. . ind

P . n di c
c

c
na

fi . h . n a s a . a a n a c a i .
i

e
o
ff ic

of C T. c P A . P . . a . s A . fr C . s . i gr S. . sc pen M
ni

c
sa
a

Z.
i

C O A .
Z .o

P P C A.
Plant extracts in different solvents Plant extracts in different solvents

Fig. 2: Antibacterial activity of plant extracts against Klebsiella Fig. 4: Antibacterial activity of plant extracts against Enterococcus
pneumoniae. faecalis.
Antibacterial activity of aqueous ( ), ethanol ( ) and acetone Antibacterial activity of aqueous ( ), ethanol ( ) and acetone
( ) extracts of plants against Klebsiella pneumoniae ( ) extracts of plants against Enterococcus faecalis

138 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences March - April 2009

 www.ijpsonline.com

acetone extract of T. chebula against multidrug
resistant UTI pathogens. This probably explains the
use of these plants by indigenous people against a
number of infections since generations. The plants
studied here had shown that they are potentially
rich in antimicrobial compounds and have also been
extensively used by the tribals. The millenarian
use of these plants in folk medicine suggests that
they represent an economic and safe alternative for
treatment of Urinary Tract Infections.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to Head, Department of Post
Graduate Studies and Research in Biological Sciences,
R. D. University, Jabalpur, India for providing laboratory
facilities.
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Accepted 31 March 2009
Revised 5 January 2009
Received 7 January 2008
Indian J. Pharm. Sci., 2009, 71 (2): 136-139

Role of Surfactant and pH in Dissolution of Curcumin

S. M. H. RAHMAN*, T. C. TELNY1, T. K. RAVI2 AND S. KUPPUSAMY2
Department of Pharmaceutics, PSG College of Pharmacy, Peelamedu, Coimbatore-641 004, India, 1Department of
Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pulla Reddy Institute of Pharmacy, Jinnaram (M), Medak-502 313, India, 2Department of
Pharmaceutics, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Sarojini Noidu Road, Coimbatore-641 044, India

Rahman, et al.: Dissolution of Curcumin

Curcumin is a phytoconstituent with wide range of biological activity. It is poorly soluble in water. In the present
study a new dissolution medium was developed, as there is no validated dissolution method available in the literature.
The composition of the dissolution medium was selected on the basis of solubility data at 37°. Solubility data revealed
that addition of surfactant may be suitable as a dissolution medium. The suitability of dissolution medium (0.5%
sodium lauryl sulphate in water) relative to the other dissolution medium was evaluated. The selected dissolution
media was used for the evaluation of curcumin tablets.

Key words: Curcumin, dissolution medium, sodium lauryl sulphate

Curcumin is a potent phytoconstituent with wide

*Address for correspondence range of biological activity[1]. Developing dissolution
E-mail: abimanu1@yahoo.co.in method for poorly soluble drugs has been a consistent

March - April 2009 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 139