Abstract

Targetting Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci With Some Indian Medicinal Plants

Author(s): Neeraj Khullar, Nikhil Kirtipal

Reports on vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) infections in hospitals have been increasing worldwide in recent years. The emergence of these resistant bacteria has created a major concern and an urgent need for new anti-bacterial agents. In the past, a variety of plants growing in Indian forests have been used as medicines to prevent and cure several diseases. The use of natural products as anti-VRE agents would therefore be promising, in order to prevent these infections. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of methanolic as well as aqueous extracts of the medicinal plants. Aristolochia indica, Andricus fecundator, Trapa bispinosa and Rheum emodi against vancomycin resistant strains of Enterococci were evaluated. Andricus fecundator and Aristolochia indica showed promising results.