In vitro study to determine antimicrobial activity of selected Ayurvedic preparations against bacteria and fungi causing superficial skin infections

Abstract

The increasing antimicrobial resistance exhibited by microorganisms causing superficial skin infections has led to extensive research on the therapeutic potential of Ayurvedic preparations. Medicinal plants contain many types of naturally occurring and side effects-free anti microbial compounds that can be effectively used against microbial infections. We tested the antimicrobial activity of twenty-eight Ayurvedic preparations used to treat superficial infections in a local Ayurvedic healthcare institution. They were tested against Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum gypseum, Candida albicans, Malassezia furfur, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Twelve preparations showed significant antimicrobial activity and gave inhibition zones >10 mm. Two Ayurvedic preparations (Mixture containing Terminella chebula, Terminella bellerica and Emblica officinalis and one of Terminella chebula only) showed antimicrobial activity against all the microorganisms tested. We suggest that these two decoctions could be effectively used against all the above tested strains.