Abstract

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF TOPICAL SIDDHA MEDICINE SIRATTAI THYLAM AGAINST SELECTED HUMAN PATHOGENS

*Sivakkumar and Juliet

Abstract

Siddha system of medicine is the main traditional medicine which is very popular in south India. In this system herbals are mainly used for the medicine preparation and to treat the diseases. Each and every part of the herbs can be used for various,multiple ailments because of their different phyto constituents. In Siddha , medicines has been classified into Aga marunthu (internal) and Pura marunthu (external) having 32 forms of medicines in each. The external remedies are very useful for topical ulcers, skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis and fungal infections. An attempt has been made to evaluate the In vitro antibacterial activity of special siddha medicine sirattai thylam which is prepared from the shells of coconut. This oil has been widely used for all types of skin diseases especially for fungal infection as topical application. In vitro antibacterial activity was tested by cup-plate method against the major infection causing pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, B - Haemolytic Streptococci, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus specious, Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Paratyphi, Klebseilla pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The result has been evaluated as the diameter of the inhibition zone of microbial growth showed that the sirattai thylam was more active against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Finally this study concluded that the sirattai thylam can be used as an anti bacterial agent.

Keywords: Siddha medicine, Sirattai thylam, antibacterial, cup-plate method.