Antibacterial Activity of Homoeopathic Tinctures on Bacterial Strains of Streptococcus Mutans and Enterococcus Faecalis: An In vitro Study

• Published in: Journal of clinical and diagnostic research Vol. 13; no. 11; pp. ZC01 - ZC04
• Main Authors: Yalgi, Viraj Satish, Bhat, Kishor Gajanan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 01.11.2019
• Subjects: disc diffusion; inhibitory activity; minimum inhibitory concentration; mother tincture
• ISSN: 2249-782X; 0973-709X
• DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2019/42190.13288

Introduction: In view of increasing resistance to existing antimicrobial agents herbal drugs are being looked as very important source for discovery of new agents for treating various ailments related to bacterial infections. Hypericum perforatum, Arnica Montana, Echinacea Angustifolia and Calendula Officinalis are well known homoeopathic tinctures which possess a wide range of pharmacological activities. Aim: The present study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial activity of Hypericum perforatum, Arnica Montana, Echinacea angustifolia and Calendula officinalis against two strains of bacteria namely Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial susceptibility of the Mother tinctures was determined by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration. Two bacterial strains S. mutans (ATCC No 25175) and E. faecalis (ATCC No 35550) were obtained from department of microbiology Maratha Mandal’s Nathajirao G Halgekar Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre Belgaum. For disc diffusion testing, blood agar and brain heart infusion agar were used. After inoculum preparation, the agar plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37 degree Celsius. For minimum inhibitory concentration 9 dilutions of each drug were done with brain heart infusion broth. Then serial dilution was repeated upto 10-9 dilutions for each drug and then the above culture containing the strains of microorganisms used were added and the tubes were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. Results: For agar diffusion among the tinctures largest zone of inhibition for S. mutans was seen with Hypericum perforatum and for E. faecalis largest zone of inhibition was seen with Echinacea angustifolia. Arnica Montana also exhibited good antibacterial activity with both organisms whereas Calendula officinalis demonstrated lower inhibitory activity with E. faecalis and no activity with S.mutans. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for all the tinctures for S. mutans was 62.5 mg/mL and for E. faecalis the MIC for Hypericum perforatum was 1 mg/mL for Arnica Montana and Echinacea angustifolia 4 mg/mL and for Calendula officinalis 16 mg/mL. Conclusion: So, it was concluded that all the homoeopathic medicines used in the form of tinctures exhibited good antibacterial activity against both strains of bacteria, except for Calendula officinalis for disc diffusion against S.mutans but with Hypericum perforatum the highest activity was observed. The use of homoeopathic tinctures is safe and may provide a good alternative for use as antibacterial agents.