ISSN: 2578-4986
Authors: Thayalini T*, Thevanesam V and Kathirgamanathar S
Cassia angustifolia is a medicinal plant under the family Caesalpinaceae. It is called Indian senna. In traditional medicine, it is used as one of the ingredient of Siddha Ayurvedic drugs to treat skin diseases. Leaves are ground as paste, and applied to various skin diseases. It has laxative properties. Antimicrobial activity of n-butanol, methanol and water extracts of leaves of this plant has been evaluated previously against Staphylococcus and Salmonella, klebsiella pneumonia and fungal species namely Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of decoction and methanolic extractact of C. angustifolia against Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571, Escherichia coli-NCTC -10418, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC -10662 and five wild strains of Methicillin resistant S aureus (MRSA). Leaves of the plant were used to prepare decoction based on the rules of preparation method of the decoction. Methanolic extract was prepared using soxlet extractor. Antibacterial activity of these extracts were carried using cut well method,. MIC was determined using agar dilution method. Each experiment was carried out in three times. Decoction and methanolic extract of C.angustifolia showed activity against S. aureus and all tested five MRSA in cut well method as well as agar dilution method. Mean and SD of the diameter of inhibition zone of decoction of C.angustifolia against these organisms ( range from 18.5 ± 0.3 mm- 27±0 mm ) was greater than the diameter of the inhibition zone of methanolic extract of this plant (range from 16 ±0mm- 18± 0mm). In agar dilution method decoction showed activity against S aureus NCTC 6571 and five strains MRSA in 1/80 dilutions. The decoction of this plant did not show activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the cut well method and agar dilution method. Although methanolic extract demonstrated activity against E coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Agar dilution method .The MIC for S. aureus NCTC 6571 and five strains MRSA was 0.75 mg/ml. The MIC for E. coli and P. aeruginosa was 1.5 mg/ml. The demonstration of antibacterial activity by C.angustifolia may help to discover new antibiotic substances that could serve as agents for skin infectious disease. Further explorationof activity of the plant against a wider range of skin pathogens and toxicological investigations and further purification would be helpful. “Financial assistance by Ministry of Higher Education, (HETC Scholarship).
Keywords: Cassia angustifolia; Toxicological Investigations; E. coli
