Antibacterial and antidiarrheal activity of Simarouba amara (Aubl.) bark

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the nutritional elements in Simarouba amara (Aubl.) bark aqueous extract (SAAE) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and the in vitro antibacterial activity against pathogens enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcous aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory, and bactericidal concentration. Then, antidiarrheal effect was studied on castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice model. Recorded Mg > Fe > Cu > Zn elements in SAAE invariably found to be effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Effective concentration of bark showed the zone of inhibition against enterotoxigenic E. coli (200 mg/ml), S. typhi and S. aureus (300 mg/ml), and P. aeruginosa and K. pneumonia (100 mg/ml). The standard ratio between minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was meticulously recorded "one" against all pathogens, which confirms the bactericidal property. Results in mice model prominently showed that SAAE significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the frequency and number of diarrheal episodes, intestinal fluid accumulation, and intestinal transit time in dose-dependent manner. Inordinate delay in charcoal movement in the intestine positively confirmed the antispasmodic effect by reducing propulsive movement. Confirmed findings in this study naturally suggested that SAAE could be an effective antibacterial and antidiarrheal formulation.