Abstract

ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF BOERHAVIA DIFFUSA AND PUNARNAVASAVAM ON URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI) CAUSING PATHOGENS

Vineeth T, Deepak M and AB Rema Shree*

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the antibacterial activity of Boerhavia diffusa leaves and an ayurvedic product Punarnavasavam on five Urinary Tract Infection causing pathogens. Klebsiella species, Pseudomonas species, Enterococcus species, Escherichia coli and Proteus species were isolated from urine samples using standard microbiological procedures. The antimicrobial activity of punarnavasavam which contains Boerhavia diffusa and different extracts of Boerhavia diffusa leaves were investigated on these pathogens using the Disc diffusion method, Well diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration. HPTLC quantification of the Boerhavia diffusa water and ethanolic extracts were also carried out. The ethanolic extract of Boerhavia diffusa and the Polyherbal formulation Punarnavasavam were highly effective against all the bacterial species isolated. Results indicated that Punarnavasavam and ethanolic extract of Boerhavia diffusa leaves contain compounds with therapeutic activity. Antibacterial activity observed higher in Punarnavasavam compared to Boerhavia diffusa leaves.

Keywords: Boerhavia diffusa, Urinary Tract Infection, Punarnavasavam, Antibacterial activity, Minimum inhibitory concentration, HPTLC.