Abstract

SCREENING OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF SIDDHA HERBAL DRUG KODAGASALAI CHOORANAM (JUSTICIA PROCUMBENS)

Vinothkumar P.*, Devaki R., Giftillda Selva Elsee T., Nalina Saraswathi K., V. Velpandian

Abstract

This present study aims to validate the antimicrobial activity of Siddha herbal drug Kodakasalai Chooranam (Justicia procumbens) commonly known as Water Willow belongs to Acanthaceae family. It is used in the form of decoction for treating variety of diseases including venereal diseases, boils, tumors, skin diseases, apthous ulcer, cancer, diabetes, fever, headache, inflammation, arthritis and different gastrointestinal disorders. The dried and powdered plant material was extracted into aqueous, ethanol and chloroform fractions. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogens, Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive), Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Proteus vulgaris (Gram negative) and one fungal species Candida albicans using the disk diffusion method and the broth dilution method. Ciprofloxacin (10μg) and Ketoconazole (10μg) were used as a positive control. It was observed that the aqueous, ethanol and chloroform extracts of Justicia procumbens presented marked antimicrobial activity against tested gram negative bacteria.Ethanol and chloroform extracts showed moderate activity against gram positive bacteria. The antibacterial activity was more apparent in ethanol extract as compared to chloroform extract for all tested organisms. The aqueous and ethanol extracts showed no activity against the yeast Candida albicans. But Chloroform extract showed marked inhibitory effect against Candida albicans. It can be concluded that the results of this study support traditional use of Justicia procumbens for its antimicrobial activity in Siddha system of medicine.

Keywords: Antimicrobial, Justicia procumbens, disk diffusion, broth dilution, Kodakasalai Chooranam, Siddha.