Antimicrobial Activity of Panchavalkal Powder and Ointment

Panchavalkala is one of the ideal combinations for a vast range of therapeutics focused in Ayurveda like Vranaropana, Shothahara, Graahi, Visarpahara, etc. Researchers in recent and past evaluated anthelmintic, antimicrobial, wound healing etc. activities of these plants in combination and individual too. Panchavalkal is widely used in different form like Kwath, powder, ointment and Malahara etc. The advantages of different innovative Kalpanas as compare to traditional one have increased shelf life, ready to use, better acceptability and ease of application. The study planned with objective to evaluate in-vitro antibacterial activity of Panchavalkal powder and Panchavalkal ointment. The antimicrobial activity of Panchavalkal powder (traditional) and ointment (conventional) was assessed by adopting agar diffusion method in which different concentrations are incorporated into an agar medium. Replicator device was used to inoculate multiple specimens on to a series of plates with respective standard drugs. Here responses of organism to the trial drugs were measured and compared with respective standard drugs i.e Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin. Micro organisms studied were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram –ve), Staphylococcus aureus (gram +ve) and Escherichia coli (gram –ve). Antimicrobial activity of both the samples against three strains of bacteria was in between 10 to 13 that is less as compared to standard. Ointment is sensitive against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The drug is more sensitive for gram positive bacteria i.e. S aurues than that of gram negative bacteria E. coli. Based on this it can be said that the drug Panchavalkala ointment has significant antimicrobial activity against both the strains at concentrations of 0.5 g and 1.0 g. Panchavalkal powder had found to exhibit antimicrobial action against S. aureus. It can be stated that antimicrobial action might increased significantly in Panchavalkal ointment. The increased additional activity might be due to concentrated Panchavalkal in ointment form that clearly proved the role of Samskara. This efficacy may also be due to the other ingredients such as sesame oil and bee wax that are the essential components in preparation of ointment. The study concluded that Panchavalkal ointment is better than Panchavalkal powder as antibacterial agent in cases of Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli infections and need to be evaluated clinically.