Vol. 3, Issue 8, Part F (2017)

Abstract
A diarrhoeal disease is a major public health problem among children. The emergence of infection caused by multiple drug resistant enteric pathogens has now necessitated the search for alternative parenteral agents and introduction of natural plant products. Ayurvedic literature indicates decoction of processed medicinal plant parts as an anti-diarrhoeal home remedy. Hence systemic study of medicinal plants is very important. This study attempts to screen etiological agent of chronic diarrhoea in malnourished patients and to study in vitro effect of plants on the clinical isolates specifically to Escherichia coli isolates. The study and control group in the study included 100 patients each. A random collection of stool samples and its inoculation on culture media was done. The minimum battery of tests was performed for identification of isolates obtained. Culture positivity was 100% and 94% in control and study group patients studied. E.coli remained the predominant isolate followed by Klebsiella pnuemoniae. Antibacterial effect of selective plants was checked on E.coli isolates obtained from study group. The extracts were prepared by hot water decoction method of plant parts like roots of sunthi (Zingiber officinale), seeds of Jeera (Cuminum cyminum), roots of musta (Cyperus rotundus) and it’s in vitro antibacterial activity was carried out by agar well diffusion method against standard strain and clinical isolates of E.coli. Sunthi showed a in vitro antibacterial activity, while musta, jeera, as well as combination of all three-plants failed to show in vitro antibacterial activity, when tested against standard strain and clinical isolates of E.coli. Though in literature these plants were documented as one of the promising household remedy as antidiarrhoeal agents towards diarrhoea, in vitro results of the present study does not show them as effective antidiarrhoeal agent, except Sunthi.