Activity of Commercially Available Herbal Drugs against Salmonella typhi

The uses of herbal drugs are getting popularity in the market of India and Pakistan for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, the Salmonella typhi (ATCC 19430) susceptibility and sensitivity was evaluated against various herbal drugs. Seventeen herbal brands including liquid and solid dosage forms claimed to treat typhoid were purchased in this study. The serial dilutions of these samples were prepared and it was observed that herbal powder (AY1) sowed activity against Salmonella typhi while the rest of samples were without activity. The brands in liquid state were comparatively more active as compared to solid brands and in these samples taifax 120ml syrup (MZ1) made better zone of inhibition against Salmonella typhi while typhex plus 60ml (KF3) and temp out syrup (KF4) were less active. Minimum inhibitory concentration of AY1, MZ1 and KF4 brands were observed at 50μg/ml while the rest of the brands at this concentration were inactive. Levofloxacin antibiotic was taken as standard and its inhibitory concentration was 15.62μg/ml. The present study reveals that though herbal drugs are trendy in the market of India and Pakistan for the treatment of typhoid but it is misfortune to say that most of these drugs are not effective. Therefore appropriate measures must be taken against such biologically inactive drugs to secure the society.