Antimicrobial Activity of Albizzia Lebbeck Benth against Infectious Diarrhoea

摘要

Aim: Medicinal plants are an important therapeutic aid for various ailments. The invitro antimicrobial activity of Albizzia lebbeck. Benth was screened against some pathogens isolated from diarrhoeal patients.Procedure: The bark of the plant was powdered and extracted separately with aqueous, methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and hexane using maceration technique. The antimicrobial activity was carried out by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration by two-fold serial dilution method. The microorganisms tested include Enterotoxigenic E.coli, Enteropathogenic E.coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella dysenteria, Shigella flexineri, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. Amikacin 10 μg/disc and fluconazole 10 μg/disc were used as standards.R esults: Aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts exhibited activity against E.coli and Salmonella species. Petroleum ether and hexane extracts did not exhibit any activity. None of the extracts showed activity against Shigella and Candida species activity.C onclusion: This study revealed that the methanol extracts of Albizzia lebbeck was effective against E.coli and Salmonella strains associated with infectious diarrhoea. Further isolation of active compound responsible for the activity could be the potential sources of new antimicrobial agents Introduction Diarrhoea is a major public health problem in developing countries and is said to be endemic in many regions of Asia especially in India, and is the leading cause of high degree of morbidity and mortality among paediatrics. Enteric bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus, Klebsiella, E.coli, Pseudomonas and Vibrio cholerae, which are commonly associated with diarrhoea, comprise the major etiologic agents of sporadic and epidemic diarrhoea both in children and adults (WHO, 1985) Multiple drug resistance among enteropathogens in various geographic regions presents a major threat in the control of diarrhoea. Therefore indigenous medicinal plants as an alternative to antibiotic are said to play a significant role. In India, since ancient times, different parts of medicinal plants have been used for this particular aspect as a remedy or home cure for diarrhoea (Almeida et al, 1995). Due to the cost effectiveness, safety, increasing failure of chemotherapy and antibiotic resistance exhibited by pathogenic microbial agents, search for plant products has increased for their potential antimicrobial activity (Hammer et al, 1999). Albizzia lebbeck. Benth belongs to family, Mimosaceae, commonly known as women’s tongue tree. It is native to tropical southern Asia, is a large, erect, unarmed, deciduous spreading tree found throughout India and has been used in Ayurveda, Sidha and Unani medicines (Kirikar and Basu 1981). Albizzia species is reported to have many important medicinal properties mainly anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia, 2001). A. lebbeck barks has acrid taste and is used for bronchitis, leprosy, paralysis, and helminthes infections and is reported to have antidiarrhoeal activity. Barks were mainly used in dental infections (Besra et al, 2002). Decoction of the leaves and barks were used in cold and cough, respiratory problems and against bronchial asthuma. The plant extract were investigated against allergic rhinitis. (Pratibha et al, 2004). Seeds were used as astringent and also given for piles and diarrhoea (Besra et al, 2002). The extracts of the pods have antidiabetic activity and also used as anticancer. The phytochemical investigations showed that the pod of the A.lebbeck contains 3’, 5’ Dihydroxy 4’, 7 dimethoxty flavone and N-Benzoyl L phenol alanimol (Rashid et al, 2003). The plant contains saponins, tannins, macrolytic alkaloids, and Phenolic glycosides and flavonos (Agarwal et al, 1991; Pal et al, 1995; Ying-Tsun Ma et al, 1997; El-Mousallamy, 1998). Materials And Methods Plant MaterialThe bark of Albizzia lebbeck was collect