Preliminary antimicrobial evaluation of DAS-77®—A polyherbal medicine

Ethnobotanical records suggest that plants are the sleeping giants of the pharmaceutical industry and are a potential natural source of antimicrobial drugs which will provide novel or lead compounds that may be employed in controlling some infections globally. DAS-77® is a phytomedicine prepared by a traditional medicine practitioner and it is claimed to be effective in the treatment of piles, dysentery, cholera, menstrual pain, stomach disorder, ulcer, constipation, diarrhoea and sexually transmitted infections. This study was therefore aimed at scientifically evaluating the antimicrobial activity of DAS-77®. The antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract was determined using the agar-well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin and tetracycline were 50 μg/ml and 62.5 μg/ml, respectively, for both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while that of the extract was 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml respectively. However, the extract did not show any inhibitory effect against Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study showed that the extract was more active against the gram-negative bacteria than the gram-positive. However, the extract was active against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, which may provide scientific bases for the local usage of the plant in the treatment of various ailments, especially dysentery and diarrhoea. Further development of this extract to produce an antimicrobial preparation from a natural source will contribute greatly towards the delivery of effective healthcare. Further pharmacological evaluation and toxicological studies are recommended.