Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging as a severe healthcare crisis worldwide. It is a most significant threat to global health, food security, and development, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The world is entering the "post-antibiotic era", and over 10 million people will die from AMR by 2050. This rising resistance has rekindled interest among researchers in discovering and developing novel, more potent antibacterial drugs to combat AMR.
Objectives: In this study, the antimicrobial effectiveness of aqueous/hydro-alcoholic extracts of AAROGYA-5 (Rajata Bhasma, powders of Ocimum tenuiflorum, Tinospora cordifolia, Ficus benghalensis, and Azadirachta indica), a Herbo-mineral formulation will be evaluated against the gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria and fungi.
Methods: The formulation was studied for its antimicrobial activity by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against Candida Albicans (fungal strain) and Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli (bacterial strains) at different concentrations: 100mg/mL, 50mg/mL, 25mg/mL, 12.5mg/mL, 6.25mg/mL, 3.125mg/mL, 1.5625 mg/mL, and 0.78125 mg/mL by Kirby Bauer and broth microdilution method.
Result: AAROGYA-5 in the form of extracts has shown significant activity at a strength of 12.5mg/mL against the Gram-positive bacteria, i.e., S. aureus and E. faecalis, and the hydro-alcoholic extract of AAROGYA-5 was found to be effective at a strength of 6.25 mg/mL against C. albicans.
Discussion: The ayurvedic formulation AAROGYA-5 was effective against the Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-positive cocci, i.e., S. aureus and E. faecalis. Moreover, the hydro-alcoholic extract is effective against C. albicans. In addition, the AAROGYA-5 has no activity against Gram-negative bacteria in either extract.
Conclusion: Based on these results, the present study demonstrated that AAROGYA-5 has significant antimicrobial activity against MDR- S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicans.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, Rajata Bhasma, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Tinospora cordifolia, Ficus benghalensis, Azadirachta indica.