Anti-microbial activity of turmeric natural dye against different bacterial strains.

Curcumin, a yellow pigment present in the Indian spice turmeric (associated with curry powder), has been linked with suppression of inflammation; angiogenesis; tumorigenesis; diabetes; diseases of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurological systems, of skin, and of liver; loss of bone and muscle; depression; chronic fatigue; and neuropathic pain. The utility of curcumin is limited by its color, lack of water solubility, and relatively low in vivo bioavailability. Because of the multiple therapeutic activities attributed to curcumin, there is an intense search for the ‘‘super curcumin’’. In the present study anti microbial activity of turmeric natural dye against different bacterial strains. In the present study in vitro, test confirmed the antimicrobial activity of turmeric extract against ten different bacterial strains. The antibacterial activity was measured by agar well diffusion method. The natural dye showed antibacterial activity against all the test bacterial isolates. Turmeric natural dye showed good inhibitory activity against E.coli and Vibrio cholera with a zone of inhibition 7mm to 15mm and 10mm to 15mm respectively. As turmeric powders are used to color natural fibers from which consumer products are manufactured. The incorporation of turmeric dye with natural fiber will help to produce value added handicrafts.

Antimicrobial and wound healing studies on the extracts of the medicinal plant cocculus hirsutus (linn).

The antimicrobial activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of the medicinal plant Cocculus hirsutus was studied using E.coli, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus ,Candida gillermontii,Tricophyton rubrum,Tricophyton tansuans,Aspergillus ochraceus,Candida albicans and Rodatrula sp as test micoorganisms.The methanol extract of the plant was found to be more effective against Vibrio cholera(18) and Staphylococcus aureus(17mm) and in the mean time the aqueous extract was found to be more effective against Vibrio cholera(13) and Klebsiella pneumonia (14mm).Both methanol and aqueous extract of this plant was found with no fungal activity against fungal pathogens. Phytochemical screening of the methanol extract of Cocculus hirsutus revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins and saponins, which suggests may be responsible for antimicrobial activity. The wound healing potencial of this plant was found to be comparably better than that of the commercial antibiotic Neomycin.

Azadirachta indica - cow urine extract, a novel controlling agent towards Clinically significant Multi Drug Resistant Pathogens.

Azadirachta indica have been widely used in traditional systems of medicine for a variety of diseases. In the present study, Cow urine extract of Azadirachta indica was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity against MDR Clinical isolates. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated towards five MDR pathogenic strains of bacteria. The results indicated that Cow urine extract of A.indica more antibacterial activity in comparison of its organic fraction for MDR E.coli and, Klebseilla pneumonia . The phytochemical test suggests that constituents for all the 20 days were positive for flavonoids, alkaloids, quinine, coumarin, tannin, saponin and phenol. Antimicrobial activities were correlated with chemical compositions of both organic extracts and Cow urine extract of A. indica.