Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Studies of Salvadora persica, Prosopis cineraria and Tamarix aphyla Plants from Cholistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Viral and bacterial infections are causing havoc to human health, wildlife, poultry and livestock since long. Current study was designed to carry out investigation of the antiviral and antibacterial potential of leaves of Salvadora persica, Prosopis cineraria and Tamarix aphyla from Cholistan by using HA/IHA titers and Agar disc diffusion methods. Extracts of these plants were tested against 4 different viruses i.e. Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV), Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) and Avian Influenza Virus (AIV-H9N2) and 5 different bacteria i.e. Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The drug ampicillin was used as a positive control. The results indicate that the n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts were more effective against viruses and bacteria as compared to ethanol, methanol, n-butanol and aqueous extracts. In comparison of plants, the extracts of S. persica were found to have highest antiviral potential while on the other hand the extracts of T. aphyla showed the best activity against bacteria. Overall these plants were most effective against IBDV and least effective against NDV and in comparison of bacterial pathogens, these plants were found to be highly effective against P. vulgaris and least effective against P. aeruginosa.