SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS AND ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST FEW PATHOGENIC BACTERIA
The use of traditional medicine to treat infection has been practiced since the origin of mankind, and in past it was the only method available. Currently, due to the absence of sufficient modern health care system particularly in rural areas, people prefer to visit traditional healers and herbal medicines. The synergistic effect from the combination of antibiotics with plant extracts against resistant bacteria and fungi leads to new ways for the treatment of infectious diseases. The increasing and indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The use of synergistic combinations in antimicrobial chemotherapy is often used commercially for the treatment of various infections. Synergetic effect of leaf extracts of plants (Tinospora cardifolia and Adhatoda vasica) and antibiotics (Rifampicin and Nalidixic acid) were tested against bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus cereus. Many combinations were found to be showing almost double increased effect than normally expected individually. However many combinations did not show any synergistic effect.