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Effect of Plumbago zeylanica extract and certain curing agents on multidrug resistant bacteria of clinical origin

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Abstract

Alcoholic extract of Plumbago zeylanica (root) was tested against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of bacteria (Salmonella paratyphi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae and a R-plasmid-harbouring standard strain, E.coli x+). The extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity against all test bacteria irrespective of their antibiotic resistance behaviour. Phytochemical analysis of crude extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins and naphthoquinone. A comparative evaluation of R-plasmid elimination from E. coli x+ (pUK 651) by the plant extract, DNA intercalating dyes (acridine orange and ethidium bromide) and a DNA gyrase antagonizing drug (pefloxacin) were made. All these agents could cure R-plasmid effectively at their respective sub-MIC concentrations. Maximum plasmid curing was observed by pefloxacin (88%), followed by ethidium bromide (36%), acridine orange (14%) and alcoholic extract of P. zeylanica (14%). Curing of plasmid pUK651 from E. coli x+ was confirmed by determining the loss of resistance markers in the cured derivative culture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, RAK Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Arina Z. Beg & Iqbal Ahmad

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  1. Arina Z. Beg
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  2. Iqbal Ahmad
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Beg, A.Z., Ahmad, I. Effect of Plumbago zeylanica extract and certain curing agents on multidrug resistant bacteria of clinical origin. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 16, 841–844 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008991724288

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008991724288

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