ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF JATIPHALA(Myristica Fragrans Houtt.) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BACTERIA CAUSING RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS – AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

According to W. H.O. respiratory infections stand first among the top ten causes of death in low income countries. About 1.05 million people die annually which account for 11.3% of total mortality. Most of these infections are caused by organisms like, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli etc. Irrational usage of antibiotics has promoted the development of antibiotic resistance among organisms. Management of these infections is of great difficulty for the clinicians. Therefore there is an increasing need for the introduction of herbal remedy to overcome this problem. Many herbs are enlisted to overcome this problem, Jatiphala is one among them. It has qualities like ushna, teekshna, shwasahara, kasahara etc.So present study was designed to screen antimicrobial activity of the Jatiphala on Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae keeping Escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus as standards.