Synergistic Antibacterial Activity of Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) and Metal Salts against Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Medicnal plants are use as an alternative of drugs and therapeutic agents all over the world from ancient era due to facing the disaster of resistivity against antimicrobial drugs by micro­organisms and alsodue to its lesser side effects.The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Trachyspermum ammi (ajwain) against seven isolated bacterial spps.in vitro, P.aeruginosa, B.subtilis, S.aureus, Proteus sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, S.typhi and E.coli by well diffusion and disc diffusion techniques. In addition, enhancement of antimicrobial activity of ajwain by adding metal salt was also observed.The result demonstrated that both extract of ajwain give greater effectivity against all 7 bacterial spps, but zinc sulphate and calcium sulphate did not enhanced the antibacterial activity when added to ajwain extract while copper sulphate, magnesium sulphate and sodium sulphate enhanced the antibacterial activity when added to ajwain extract against all the bacterial spps. with same concentrations. Significant results were obtained in ajwain metal combination as compared to seed extracts alone that suggests its future appliance in food and pharmaceuticals.