In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Bioactive Potent Compounds from Terminalia chebula against Some Common Human Pathogens

Objective: Emergence of community-acquired infections due to multi drug resistant (MDR) common human pathogens have caused a great problem to clinicians and this directed us to search systematically for a different remedy with compounds particularly from plant origin. Methods: The antibacterial activity was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay method against some common gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Results: In vitro study with Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) stem bark extracts, eight isolated triterpenoids and four triterpenoid derivatives were found to be effective against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Conclusions: Pure compounds from T.chebula could be effectively used as antibacterial agents if it is possible to develop the molecules synthetically. At the same time crude extracts with specified active principles could also be used and/or introduced in Traditional Medicine/Complementary Alternative Medicine (TM/CAM) as antibacterial into National/International Health Systems as per the guideline of Ayurvedic formularies.