Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF TRIPHALA GUGGULU KASHAYA USED IN TREATMENT OF KUSHTA ROGA (DERMATITIS)

E.R.H.S.S. Ediriweera*, A.M.H.Y Perera, R. Senavirathne and R. Rajapaksha

ABSTRACT

Triphala Guggulu Kashaya is a medicinal preparation that contains Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellarica and Commiphora wightii. It is administered orally to treat various diseases including Kushta Roga. Kushta Roga can be corelated with dermatitis. Bacterial infections are common in dermatitis. Some of the bacterial infections in the skin are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Though Triphala Guggulu Kashaya is effective in treatment of Kushta Roga (dermatitis), so far no known study has been conducted to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Triphala Guggulu Kashaya. Therefore, antibacterial effect of Triphala Guggulu Kashaya and effects of its individual constituent ingredients against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa that are responsible for skin diseases was observed using disc diffusion method and well diffusion methods. Inhibition zones of 8- 14.8mm against Staphylococcus aureus were observed with Triphala Guggulu Kashaya and all its individual ingredients. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Triphala Guggulu Kashaya and its individual constituent ingredients against Staphylococcus aureus were 0.0813 mg/1ml to 6.61 mg/1ml. Ingredients of Triphala Guggulu Kashaya contain flavonoids, tannins and phenols. Antibacterial effect of Triphala Guggulu Kashaya and its ingredients may have been exhibited due to actions of these phytochemicals. It was concluded that Triphala Guggulu Kashaya and its ingredients taken individually have an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus.

Keywords: Triphala Guggulu Kashaya, Antibacterial effect, Kushta Roga.