Author(s): Ramamurthi Arularasi Aberna* and K. Prabhakar
Journal: Journal of Pharmacy Research
ISSN 0974-6943
Volume: 4;
Issue: 7;
Start page: 2057;
Date: 2011;
Original page
Keywords: Enterococci | resistance | Ocimum sanctum | betalactum antibiotics.
ABSTRACT
Enterococci are a major cause of nosocomial infections and they are among the most common pathogens isolated from infected surgical sites and blood stream infections and urinary tract infections. An increasing number of strains are resistant to large number of antibiotic agents and often cause fatal infections. Historically, tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) has been found to posses many therapeutic properties including antibacterial activity. This study assesses the antienterococcal potential of Ocimum sanctum leaf extracts by disk diffusion and evaluates the betalactum resistance modulating property of the extracts against clinical E.faecalis and E.faecium isolates by checker board dilution method. Acetone extract of Ocimum sanctum exhibited antienterococcal activity and when combined with betalactum antibiotics had an FICI ranging from 0.125-0.866 indicating synergistic and additive effects. It is therefore suggested that extracts from Ocimum sanctum could be used as a source of plant-derived natural products with resistance-modifying activity, against multidrug resistant enterococci.
Journal: Journal of Pharmacy Research
ISSN 0974-6943
Volume: 4;
Issue: 7;
Start page: 2057;
Date: 2011;
Original page
Keywords: Enterococci | resistance | Ocimum sanctum | betalactum antibiotics.
ABSTRACT
Enterococci are a major cause of nosocomial infections and they are among the most common pathogens isolated from infected surgical sites and blood stream infections and urinary tract infections. An increasing number of strains are resistant to large number of antibiotic agents and often cause fatal infections. Historically, tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) has been found to posses many therapeutic properties including antibacterial activity. This study assesses the antienterococcal potential of Ocimum sanctum leaf extracts by disk diffusion and evaluates the betalactum resistance modulating property of the extracts against clinical E.faecalis and E.faecium isolates by checker board dilution method. Acetone extract of Ocimum sanctum exhibited antienterococcal activity and when combined with betalactum antibiotics had an FICI ranging from 0.125-0.866 indicating synergistic and additive effects. It is therefore suggested that extracts from Ocimum sanctum could be used as a source of plant-derived natural products with resistance-modifying activity, against multidrug resistant enterococci.
