Comparative Evaluation of Poly Herbal Formulation from Traditionally Used Eritrean Medicinal Plants against Pathogenic Microorganisms

Aim: The present study was taken to investigate the in vitro anti-microbial activity of Poly herbal formulation (PHF) of Schinus molle, Rhamnus prinoides, Grewia ferruginea, Achyranthes aspera against different human pathogenic strains.

Methods: Leaves of selected plants were extracted by using Ethanol-Aqueous solution (70:30). The antimicrobial activities of different plants singly as well as various combined formulations were screened using agar well diffusion assay.

Results and Discussion: All Poly herbal formulation showed zone of inhibition ranged from 23-40 mm against S. aureus as well as it was found to be susceptible to all the selected plant extracts when tested as single plant extract. In antifungal screening, the combined extract of Schinus molle and Grewia ferruginea showed significant zone of inhibition against tested fungi when these two extracts were combined in the ratio of 1:1. C. albicans also showed susceptibility when all the four plant extracts were combined in equal ratio. While E. coli was found resistant to all the single and combined forms of the selected plant extracts.

Conclusion: Based on comparison aspect of antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts it can be concluded that combined plant extracts overcome the problem of resistance towards antimicrobial effect of a single plant extract or purified drug. Results also conclude that the diseases or infections caused by S. aureus and C. albicans can be treated by preparing drugs from these combinations of plants.