Antimicrobial Properties of Ethanolic Extract of Holarrhena pubescens Against MDR Strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

In the present times the multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria has become widespread all over the World and has increased the rate of mortality in the patients. Pseudomanas aeruginosa colonizes in the intensive care units (ICU’s) of the hospitals and is the reason behind health care associated infections. Pseudomonas infection further increases the chances of morbidity and mortality in the patients. In this study we explored the antimicrobial nature of Holarrhena pubescens also known as Kurchi on the MDR strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial nature of extract of the leaves of Kurchi was studied by Micro dilution test and then minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was calculated by serial dilution in Mueller Hinton Broth. The ethanolic extract showed antimicrobial property with MIC value of 6.25mg/ml in case of MDR strain of Pseudomonas. Further synergy test was done using the antibiotics Meropenem and Polymyxin B to check if the ethanolic extract of the leaves could increase the inhibitory property of these antibiotics against the infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was found that there was slight increase in the efficacy of the antibiotics against the MDR strain when it was combined with the ethanolic leaf exteact of Holarrhena pubescens. Thus this antimicrobial nature of Holarrhena pubescens can be further used in the field of pharmacy to develop more efficient drugs agains MDR strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.