Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research (ISSN : 0975-7384)

Screening for antidiarrheal activity of Psidium Guajava : A possible alternative in the treatment against diarrhea causing enteric pathogens

Author(s): Thangjam Rubee Chanu, Vasudha Pai, Rituparna Chakraborty, Bangar Raju, Richard Lobo and Mamatha Ballal

Psidium guajava leaves, commonly known as guava was screened against some common enteric pathogens like Escherichia coli, Shigella spp, Salmonella spp, Aeromonas spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. The alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Psidium guajava leaves were obtained using the Soxhlet apparatus. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts were tested on Mueller Hinton Agar by the punch well technique. Significant inhibitory effects were observed against the isolates that were tested. Significant activity of ethanolic extract was observed against Vibrio, Aeromonas, Salmonella and Shigella species. Aqueous extract showed significant activity against candida and Escherichia coli. The results of the present study supported the claims of folk medicine for the use of this plant for the treatment of diarrhea. These results were encouraging and can be extrapolated further to consider the use of Psidium guajava leaf extracts as an alternative treatment option for diarrhea caused by the enteric pathogens.

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