Synergistic effect of some spices in combination with antibiotics against drug resistant pathogenic microorganisms

Author(s): Jyoti Mehta*

Abstract: Aim: The present work was to evaluate the possible in vitro interaction of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of Piper nigrum (P. nigrum) (Seed), Syzygium aromaticum (S. aromaticum) (Bud), and Cinnamomum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum) (Bark) with norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, known antimicrobial drugs. Methods: This synergy study of traditional spices was carried out against Gram positive drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and Bacillus cereus (B.cereus) using agar well diffusion method. Result and conclusion: The extraction yield of S. aromaticum (3.40±1.2%) was highest among the methanol extract while among ethyl acetate, the best extractive yield with 5±1.8% was calculated in P.nigrum. The concentration dependent activity of the S. aromaticum was recorded with zone diameter of inhibition 17.9-19.6 mm while inhibition zone of P.nigrum and C.verum ranged from 10.9-21.5 mm and 10.7-13.1 mm respectively against the test bacteria. During synergism testing, extracts of S. aromaticum, P. nigrum, and C. verum in combination with used antibiotics had growth inhibitory indices (GIIs), 0.47-1.35, 0.53-1.18 and 0.54-1.29 against S. epidermidis, S. pneumoniae and B.cereus strains, respectively. Ethyl acetate extract of P. nigrum found to be a synergistic enhancer though it does not have any antimicrobial properties alone, but when taken concurrently with ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, it enhanced the effect of these drugs. These results may indicate the possibility of concurrent use of P.nigrum extract to provide an array of safe antimicrobial agents to control infections caused by S. epidermidis, S. pneumoniae and B. cereus drug-resistant bacteria.

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