Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF TRICHOSANTHES DIOICA (PATOLA), ZINGIBER OFFICINALE (SHUNTHI), TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA (GUDUCHI) – A REVIEW

Neha C. Gangurde* and Vd. Meenakshi Amrutkar*

Abstract

Ayurvedic medicinal plants have been used for thousand of years to treat and prevent health disorders. Patola (Trichosanthes dioica), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) are amongst the prominent and potent ayurvedic drugs which play a vital role in the management and treatment of various diseases. The knowledge of their healing properties has been transmitted over the centuries among human communities. Active compounds produced during secondary vegetal metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of some plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. Currently, data on antimicrobial activity of numerous medicinal plants so far considered empirical have been scientifically confirmed, with increasing number of reports on pathogenic micro organisms resistant to antimicrobials. Products derived from medicinal plants may potentially control microbial growth in diverse situations and in specific case of disease treatment, and many studies have aimed to describe the chemical composition of different extracts of these medicinal plants. Such research works and studies should be brought to the knowledge of mankind. Thus, in present study, above mentioned ayurvedic medicinal plants with emphasis on their antimicrobial activities are reviewed.

Keywords: Trichosanthes dioica, Zingiber officinale, Tinospora cordifolia, phytochemistry, ayurvedic, antimicrobial activity, plant extracts.