Antimicrobial Effect of an Alcoholic Extract of an Ethnobotanical Mixture Against Clinical Isolates

Abstract

Infectious diseases, exacerbated by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, continue to pose a significant global burden. Traditional Medicine offers interesting possibilities for combating drug resistance, with various plants producing secondary metabolites that exhibit biological activities. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of an alcoholic extract of an ethnobotanical mixture (Hawan Samagri) against clinical isolates. The mixture consists of six herbs commonly used in the Hawan ritual in India i.e. Giloy, Nagarmotha, Palash, Bakuchi, Bel, Kapoor kachari} and Chid. The study tested its extract against 11 clinical bacterial isolates using the microbroth dilution method. The results demonstrated that the alcoholic extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested bacterial isolates, indicating potential broad-spectrum activity. The study also revealed varying levels of resistance among the isolates: Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most resistant, while Branhamella catarrhalis and Proteus vulgaris were relatively medium resistant, and the remaining five bacteria, i.e. Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Coagulase-positive staphylococci, Citrobacter freundii and Coagulase-negative staphylococci, were relatively least resistant. Although the study provides valuable insights into the antimicrobial potential of the ethnobotanical mixture, further research is required to determine the specific concentrations, active compounds, and mechanisms of action along with their efficacy and optimal dosage. Nevertheless, these findings contribute to the use of indigenous resources for combating antimicrobial resistance and suggest the potential of incorporating such herbal mixtures into the daily practices of Hawan as a preventive measure.