Antibacterial activity of Syzigium cumini leaf extracts against multidrug resistant pathogenic bacteria

Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA) and Escherichia coli strains were isolated from the Clinical specimens such as pus, wound, urine, ear swabs and blood collected from the Health care centers at Lucknow city of Northern India. All strains were tested and detected as multi-drug resistant against penicillin, ampicillin, cefpdoxime, sulphadiazine, nalidixic acid, erythromycin and amoxicillin. Antibacterial activity of Syzigium cumini leaf extracts in various solvents was also determined. The efficacy of the extracts was found higher in petroleum ether and ethanolic solvents with the inhibition zone 8-24 mm than all other solvent extracts tested. Extracts of Syzigium cumini exhibited prominent activity against both the drug resistant strains of S. aureus and E. coli. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of Syzigium cumini leaf extracts were also determined among the strains. MIC and MBC values varied from 1.56 to 25 mg/ml and 1.56 to 50 mg/ml among the tested strains. The combination of ampicillin with plant extracts exhibited a significant synergistic effects on growth of multidrug resistant strains of both genus tested. Our study thus suggests the use of this medicinal plant in the treatment of various diseases caused by drug resistant species of S. aureus and E. coli.