Abstract

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIBIOFILM POTENTIAL OF ALUM (SPHATIKA) & IT’S BHASMA (SPHATIKA BHASMA) AGAINST MIXED BACTERIAL BIOFILMS

*Dr. Anuya Aparna Rege

ABSTRACT

Most biofilm studies examine mono-species cultures, whereas, nearly all communities in nature comprise a variety of microorganisms. Mixed-species biofilms are also dominant in the human host. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover new drugs that are effective against mixed biofilms. Natural products could serve as source of novel antibiofilm candidates. In the present in vitro study, antimicrobial potential of Alum (Sphatika) and it’s Bhasma (Sphatika Bhasma) was evaluated against mixed bacterial cultures prepared from 4 gram negative bacteria [Escherichia coli (ATCC- 10148), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC-700603), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Fisher’s Immuno Type IV), Salmonella typhi (NCTC-786)], 4 gram positive bacteria [Bacillus subtilis (ATCC-9372), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC- 29212), Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC- 25923), Sarcina lutea (NCTC-2470)] and mixture of all 8 bacteria using assays such as MIC & MBC, whereas, their antibiofilm potential was evaluated using Crystal violet staining method. Furthermore, 4 combinations prepared from Alum (AL), Sphatika Bhasma (SB) & standard antibiotic Ciprofloxacin (CP), namely, AL+SB, AL+CP, SB+CP and AL+SB+CP were also evaluated against the mixed bacterial biofilms. Overall, Sphatika Bhasma revealed the highest inhibitory potential against biofilms of all 3 mixed cultures when tested alone. The said activity was better than that of Alum and the combinations included in the present study. Thus, Alum and Sphatika Bhasma have revealed Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm potential against mono as well as mixed cultures through previous and present in vitro studies respectively. Moreover, this is the first report on Antibiofilm potential of Alum and Sphatika Bhasma against mixed cultures/mixed biofilms.

Keywords: Antibiofilm activity, Alum, Bhasma, Ayurveda, Mixed Biofilm, Natural Products.