Assessment of antibacterial potential of trifla churan and its componants (amla, baheda and harad) against UTI pathogens.

Abstract

Purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections among all age groups. Objective of present study was to detect the antibacterial activity of trifla churan against isolated UTI pathogens.

Materials and Methods: UTI bacteria were isolated from urine and identified by standard biochemical tests. Escherichia coli was found the major pathogen (75% cases studied) while Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused infections only in 15%, 5% and 5% cases respectively. Antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanol, ether and acetone preparations of herbal drug (Trifla Churna) and its components (amla: Emblica officinalis, baheda: Terminalia bellerica and harad: Terminalia chebula ) were evaluated against these isolated UTI causing bacteria using agar well diffusion method.

Results: All the extracts are potent antimicrobials against all the pathogens studied. Among the different solvents extracts studied ethanol and ether showed high degree of inhibition followed by acetone and aqueous extracts. Ethanol extracts of trifla churan, baheda and harad were most effective against E. coli, but ethanol extract of amla was most sensitive to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In all herbal preparations maximum inhibition zone diameter was obtained in E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa while Proteus vulgaris was comparatively less susceptible.

Conclusions: All the isolated pathogens were susceptible to Trifla churna and herbal preparations of all the three components of trifla churan showed almost similar antimicrobial activity (harad showed the maximum inhibition) and showed an enhanced activity when were used in combination in equal. So, herbal drug, trifla churan can be used for the treatment of UTI.