PHARMACOGNOSTICAL EVALUATION OF TERMINALIA CHEBULA FRUIT EXTRACT AGAINST RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIOUS PATHOGENS

To evaluate the antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Terminalia chebula, commonly called Haritaki was tested against respiratory tract infection-causing bacteria. The antibacterial activities were assessed by agar well diffusion, broth dilution and time-kill methods. It showed the best antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae among the tested respiratory infection-causing bacteria (Streptococcus pneumonia and Streptococcus pyogenes) in the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), at 100 mg/ml, respectively. Killing ability depends on the time and concentration of the extract, which was found optimum at 20 h at 100 mg/ml. The cell viability and cytotoxicity of the extract were tested on swine Lung Cell lines with different concentrations (100-500 mg/ml). The viability of the cells was more at 100 mg/ml, whereas the viability gradually decreases by increasing the concentration was determined by 3-[4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The extract showed minimal hemolytic effect in human red blood cells in Biocompatibility assay at 100 mg/ml, which was tested against standard drug levo flaxacin. It suggests that the methanolic extract of T. chebulamay be effectively used against respiratory tract infection-causing bacteria and could be a better alternative for an existing antibiotic.