Anti-<i>Salmonella</i> activity of <i>Terminalia belerica</i>: <i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies

Abstract

To search for an herbal remedy for protection against and treatment for typhoid fever, a number of plants were screened. Anti-<i>Salmonella </i>activity of <i>Terminalia belerica</i>, an ingredient of Ayurvedic preparation ‘<i>triphala</i>’ used for treatment of digestive and liver disorders, has been reported. Fruits of <i>T. belerica</i><i style=""> </i>were extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, alcohol and water and efficacy of extracts against <i style="">Salmonella typhi </i>and <i style="">Salmonella typhimurium </i>was evaluated. Alcoholic and water extracts of <i>T. belerica </i>showed significant anti-<i style="">Salmonella </i>activity and MIC was 12.5 mg/ml against <i>S. typhimurium. </i>Aqueous extracts of <i>Picrohiza kurroa</i> and <i>Vitits vinefera</i> also showed low anti-<i>Salmonella</i> activity where as aqueous extracts of <i>Asparagus racemosus</i> and<i> Zingiber officinale</i> showed no anti-<i style="">Salmonella</i> activity. Extracts of <i>T. belerica</i>, <i>Picrohiza kurroa</i> and <i>Vitits vinefera</i> with other solvents such as chloroform and petroleum ether showed insignificant activity. Results showed that aqueous extract of <i>T. belerica</i><i style=""> </i>was bactericidal at high concentrations where as low concentrations showed bacteriostatic property. <i>In vitro</i> cellular toxicity studies showed no cyto-toxicity associated with <i>T. belerica</i> extracts. Pretreatment of mice with aqueous extract of <i>T. belerica</i> conferred protection against experimental Salmonellosis and 100% survival of animals has been reported when challenged with lethal doses of <i style="">S. typhimurium</i>.<b style=""></b>