ABSTRACT
Background: Bacterial pathogens are considered aspredominant cause of human diseases throughout theworld. Until recently, antibiotics were considered aspromising agents against most bacterial pathogens butrecent reports suggest that there is growing resistance tocommonly used antibiotics creating a global healthcareproblem. Aim and Objectives: To investigate thesynergistic antibacterial potential of three differentantibiotics including Vancomycin, Clindamycin andCefotaxime with three popular Indian spices namelyCinnamomum zeylanicum (Dalchini), Trachysparmumammi (Ova) and Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) againsthuman pathogens Staphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiellapneumoniae. Material and Methods: Fourier-transformInfrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis was performedto detect molecular changes occurring while synergisticexposure of antibiotics and spices on pathogenicmicrobes. The addition of spices extracts showedenhanced activity of antibiotics against the pathogenshowever degree of antibiosis was varied according tobacterial species. Inhibition Zones (IZ) ranged from 0.0-34 mm. The highest IZ of 34.33 mm was found againstS. aureus where a combination of Cefotaxime and C.zeylanicum were applied. The synergy of spice extractswith antibiotics revealed an increase in the bactericidalactivity of standard antibiotics against pathogens. FTIRspectral analysis showed that, microorganisms showingresistance to antibiotics (Vancomycin and Clindamycin), alters important functional groups of antibioticsmight be resulting in decreased antimicrobialperformance. FTIR spectra's revealed common bands inantibiotics and spices such as nitroamines, aromaticphosphorus, benzene, bromide, carboxylic group,aliphatic esters, sulphonamides, primary alcohols,aliphatic ether, acid anhydride conjugate ring withketone and azo compounds, aromatic ethers, sulphonilchloride, sulphoamide etc. Interestingly, there wasincreased antimicrobial response for synergism whendecreased concentration of antibiotics and increasedconcentration of spice extracts were used. Conclusion:This investigation suggests that, spice extract could beused independently and in combination to elevate theperformance of antibiotics which addresses the issue ofdrug resistance in human pathogens.