Antibacterial Activity of Kutaj (Holarrhena antidysenterica Linn.) in childhood diarrhea: - In vitro study

Herbal medicines are significant and reliable sources for treating various infectious and non infectious diseases. It is well known that infectious diseases account for high proportion of health problem, especially in developing countries. Microorganism has developed resistance to many antibiotics and this have created immense clinical problem in the treatment of infectious disease. Holarrehena antidysenterica (Linn.) Wall belonging to family Apocynaceae is considered as one of the most effective remedies for treating gastrointestinal diseases such as dysentery and diarrhea in infectious and noninfectious condition. As per Ayurveda, Diarrhoea (Atisara) occurs because of abnormal and less potent digestive power (Agnidosha) and (Ajeerna). The clinical manifestations of Atisara are similar to ‘Diarrhoea’ in modern medicine which is treated with specific Antibiotics and Antispasmodics. The Classics describe; six types of Atisara viz. Vataj, Pittaj, Kaphaj, Sannipataj, Aamatisar and Raktatisar. The seed extract of the Kutaj has been considered as best anthelmintic and is also used to treat various infectious diseases. To evaluate the scientific basis for the use of the plant seed, the antibacterial activities of extract of the seed was evaluated against some common gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Holarrehena antidysenterica (L.) has broad spectrum antibacterial activity and has a potential source of new classes of antibiotics that could be useful for infectious diseases. The phytochemical constituents of the dried powdered plant seed was extracted by using aqueous solvents. The antibacterial activity of the concentrated extract was evaluated by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of plant extracts against gram positive and gram negative bacteria by using disc diffusion method. The study clearly indicated that the extract of the Kutaj is highly effective in controlling the E.coli, Shegella, Staphylococcal and Salmonella paratyphi-B pathogens responsible for Diarrhoea.