Antibacterial Effects of Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants in Combination with Honey

Abstract

In recent years drug resistance in human pathogenic bacterial strains has been commonly reported from all over the world. Sometimes use of antibiotics is associated with adverse effects on host like hypersensitivity and immune suppression. This has created various clinical problems in the treatments of infectious diseases. A large number of antimicrobial agents derived from traditional medicinal plants can be used as alternatives of antibiotics. In this study bacterial cultures were isolated from samples collected from different sites. The cultures were identified based on their colony morphology, gram stain reaction and different biochemical tests. Four bacterial cultures namely E. coli, Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. were identified and selected for the study. The effects of different antibiotics, honey and aqueous extracts of Ginger, Garlic, Turmeric, Basil and Clove on bacterial cultures were determined. The antibacterial effects of extracts of medicinal plants in combination with honey on different bacterial cultures were also studied. The results show that all the bacterial cultures were resistant to Penicillin G indicating that bacteria have developed antibiotic resistance. It was seen that the extracts of Ginger and Garlic have highest antimicrobial effect on these bacterial cultures followed by Turmeric and Basil. The aqueous extract of Clove did not show any antibacterial effects. Honey also showed antibacterial activity and it was interesting to see that when the extracts of medicinal plants were used in combination with honey then their antimicrobial effects significantly increased. In Ayurveda honey has been described as potent medicine for several uses and results of this study demonstrate that if extracts of these medicinal plants which are also used as spices in Indian food are used in combination with honey then their medicinal qualities may be enhanced.