Herbal antibacterial drugs

Anti-Bacterial Drugs of
Herbal Origin
1
Dr. Rahul Kaushik
Assistant Professor
Ram-Eesh Institute of Vocational &
Technical Education, Greater Noida
Email: rahulkcsji@gmail.comDr. Rahul Kaushik (Email:
rahulkcsji@gmail.com)

Introduction
In the recent years, interest in herbal medicines and medicines from
other natural products have grown among :
•Healthcare Professionals
•Scientists and
•General public
Almost every modern drug owes its origin to some medicinal plants.
Examples Ephedrine,Vincristine,vinblastine, etc.
Reason:
Less side effects
Easy availability
Holistic beliefs of society and
Increase in resistant strains of pathogens.
2Dr. Rahul Kaushik (Email:

Anti-Bacterial Drugs
Drugs that possess:
• Ability to restrict the growth of bacteria
• Either by Killing the bacteria (Bactericidal) or inhibiting the growth of
bacteria( Bacteriostatic ).
•Destroys the bacteria present internally or within the human body.
•On application to living tissues, reduce the possibilities of infection, sepsis
or putrefaction.
are termed as anti-bacterials.
Now a days, as the researchers are developing new drugs against
bacteria, the bacteria are also developing resistance to the existing anti
bacterial drugs (mostly from synthetic origin).
So to combat these problems number of Pharmaceutical firms are looking
for the natural compounds and investing huge proportions of their R&D
budgets in the development of natural and herbal pharmaceuticals.

Anti-Bacterial Drugs
How herbal anti-bacterials shows less toxicity ?
 Herbal drugs contains a number of chemical moities.
 If Bacterium is resistant to one of the chemical
constituents then other moieties are there to
compensate for the first and shows the anti bacterial
properties.
 Due to the presence of number of chemical moities
each in very small quantity, the chances for toxicity of a
particular compound is very less which is not there in
the synthetic anti-bacterials.
 Herbal drugs acts with one or two mechanisms for
showing the desired effets.
So due to these reason the herbal drugs are gaining
importance.

Mechanism of actions of
Anti-Bacterial drugs
Mechanism of action include:
Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
Inhibition of protein synthesis
Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis
Inhibition of metabolic pathways
Interference with cell membrane
integrity
 Mostly synthetic drugs have a well
defined mechanism of action but in case
of herbal drugs the actual mechanism is
not known or very difficult to know so
here we assume that the anti-bacterial
action of the herbal drugs can be due to
one or more above mentioned
mechanisms or a combination of
mechanisms. 5Dr. Rahul Kaushik (Email:

Herbal Anti-Bacterial Drugs
Here we are discussing some plants having
anti-bacterial properties.

 Acacia catechu
 Botanical Name : Acacia catechu
 Family Name : Mimosaceae
 Common Name : Cutch Tree, Catechu, Black Cutch
 Part Used : Bark And Heartwood
 Habitat : Found in indian forests, upto the
elevation of 1,500 m.
 Uses : Bark of cutch tree is strong antioxidant,
astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and
anti-fungal in nature.
It is used as a mouthwash for mouth, gum, sore
throat, gingivitis, dental and oral infections.
Heartwood is used to yield concentrated aqueous
extract i.e. cutch. Cutch (extract) is astringent,
cooling, and digestive. It is useful in cough,
diarrhea, ulcers, boils and eruptions of the skin.
Decoction of bark is given internally in case of
leprosy. Helps to cure pile when taken with lemon
regularly.
 Chemical Constituents: catechin isomers,
acacatechin(2-12%), phlobatannin, kaempferol ,
quercetin,faxifolin and iso rhamnatin.
(-) catechin(+) catechin
quercetin kaempferol

 Alpinia galanga
 Botanical Name : Alpinia galanga
 Family Name : Zingiberaceae
 Common Name : Galanga Root, El Galangal, hang
Dou Kou, Laos, Galgant, Naukyo, Da Liang Jiang,
Gran
 Part Used : Roots
 Habitat : Cultivated in south east asia.
 Uses : The rhizome is used against rheumatism,
bronchial catarrh, bad breath and ulcers
whooping colds in children, throat infections, to
control incontinence and fever. Alpinia species
show promise as anti-fungals,anti-bacterial,
hypotensives, enhancers of sperm count and
motility. Anti-tumor and anti-dementia effects
have been observed in rodents.
 Chemical constituents : Vol.oils (0.5-1 %), resin
(20%),galangin,dihydroxyflavanol,galangol,phloba-
phene tannins,alpinin,camphene,kaempferol etc.
Galangin Camphene

 Berberis aristata
 Botanical Name : Berberis aristata
 Family Name : Berberidaceae
 Common Name : Tree Turmeric, Indian
Barberry, Ophthalmic Barberry.
 Part Used : Bark, Fruit, Root, Stem And Wood.
 Habitat : It is found in himalayan region,
distributed from kashmir to uttarakhand.
 Uses : The plant is anti-bacterial, anti-
inflammatory, astringent, alternative,
antipyretic, antiperiodic, anti-septic, anti-cancer,
bitter, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue,
laxative, stomachic and sweat-inducing.
 Chemical constituents : Berberine, palmitine ,
jatrorrhizine, columbamine, tetrahydropalmitine,
barbamine,oxyberberine.
Berbamine
Columbamine

 Cinnamomum camphora
 Botanical Name : Cinnamomum camphora
 Family Name : Lauraceae
 Common Name : Gum Camphor, Camphor Laurel,
French Camphor, Howood
 Part Used : Roots, Wood
 Habitat : Cultivated in india as an ornamental
tree.
 Uses : Bark is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal,
analgesic, analeptic, anthelmintic, antispasmodic,
aromatic, aphrodisiac, carminative, diaphoretic,
sedative, stimulant, narcotic and tonic.
 Chemical constituents : Camphor, cineole,
pinene, phellendrene, camphorene, B-santelene,
borneol and selinene.
Camphor cineole selinene
PhellendreneB-santelene

 Haldi
 Botanical Name : Curcuma longa
 Family Name : Zingiberaceae
 Common Name : Curcuma,Turmeric,
Safran De Malabar, Safran Des Indes.
 Part Used : Leaves, Flowers, Roots
 Habitat : Cultivated extensively in india
within tropical climate.
 Uses : Turmeric is used extensively in
foods for both its flavor and color. The
rhizome (root) of turmeric has long been
used in traditional Asian medicine to treat
gastrointestinal upset, arthritic pain, Its
chemical const. Curcumin is antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet,
cholesterol-lowering antibacterial and
anti-fungal effects.
 Chemical constituents : Curcumin,
I,II,III, Ess.oils,, borneole, curcuminoids,
zingeberene, turmerone, arabinose,
glucose, starch grains etc.

 Podina
 Botanical Name : Mentha arvensis
 Family Name : Lamiaceae
 Common Name : Field Mint, Corn Mint, Japanese
Mint, Podina
 Part Used : Whole Plant, Oil
 Habitat : Found through out india.
 Uses : The entire plant is antibacterial,
antifibrile. It yields an essential oil and menthol
which exert, through their rapid evaporation,
slightly anaesthetic, . Due to it is antiseptic and
anti-bacterial property, it can be used in swollen
gums, mouthwash or mouth ulcers and
toothacheand anodyne local effect.
 Chemical constituents : Menthol(50-90%),
Vol.oils (thymene,eugenol,pulegone,limonene),
Also contains sesquiterpenes, B-elemene and (-)
Caryophyllene.
Pulegone
Menthol Elemene

 Amla
 Botanical Name : Phyllanthus embelica Linn.
 Family Name : Euphorbiaceae
 Common Name : Stone Breaker,Gale Of Wind,
Carry Me Seed, Creole Senna,Amla.
 Part Used : Whole Plant
 Habitat : Common in central and southern india
extending to srilanka.
 Uses : Phyllanthus blocks DNA polymerase, the
enzyme needed for the hepatitis B virus to
reproduce. It also prevent from
jaundice,diabetes, dyspepsia, ulcers, sores,
swellings, ophthalmia and chronic dysentery. . It
is bitter, astringent, cold, anti-inflammatory,
hepatoprotective and useful in liver disorders,
cough, asthma, jaundice, spleen disorders and
strong anti bacterial.
 Chemical constituents : Rich source of Vit-C,
pectin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, IAA, glucose and
tannins.
Vit-C Indole acetic acid Gallic acid
Ellagic acid Pectin

Lets have some Drugs under R&D
There are certain herbal drugs which are under research & development
claming to have anti-bacterial properties.Here are some of them:
 Berries of Laurus nobilis L.
Pomegranate
 Cranberry
Green Tea
Goldenseal
Garlic
Cats claw ( a peruvian herb)
Cayene
Chlorella
Fennel
Fenu greek
Fever few
Ginseng
Juniper berry
Licorice
Oregano leaf oil and St. John’s wort etc. 14Dr. Rahul Kaushik (Email:

 Pomegranate Seed Oil
 Botanical Name : Punica granatum
 Family Name : Puniacaceae
 Common Name : Pomegranate, Pom,anar
 Part Used : Pomegranate Seed Oil, Pomegranate
Oil
 Habitat : Cultivated all over india.
 Uses : Oil possesses Antibacterial properties.
Pomegranate is now well known for antioxidant
properties.Researches are still going on in the
field of Oncology for the treatment of cancer.
 Chemical constituents : Pomegranate seeds
yeild a drying oil which contains Pucinic acid
forming upto 72% of the fatty acid. Pucinic acid
is conjugated triene and geometrical isomer of
elaostearic acid,punicalin and punicaligin.
Punicalin Punicaligin

Recent Developments contd..
Berries of Laurus nobilis.
Botanical name: Laurus nobilis L.
Family name : Lauraceae.
Common names : Berries of Lauraus.
Habitats : Damp rocks and ravines, thickets and
old walls.
Uses : Anti-bacterial confirmed and drug is still
under investigation for other pharmacological
actions.
Chemical constituents : Essential oils principally
1,8 Cineole, alkaloids,fixed oils,sterols,flavonoids
and phenolics.Phenolic nature also responsible for
anti-bacterial actions.
1,8 Cineole

 Crane berry
 Botanical name : Vaccinium macrocarpon.
 Family name : Ericaceae.
 Common names : Berries of crane.
 Habitats : Grown in Massachusetts, New
Jersey, Oregon, and Washington
 Uses : Anti-bacterial, useful for Uterine
infections like cystitis.
 Chemical constituents : Tannins, leutin,catechin,
triterpenoids,anthocyanins,riboflavin,vit.E and b-
carotene.
Catechin Riboflavin

 Green Tea
 Botanical name : Camellia sinensis (Linn.).
 Family name : Theaceae.
 Part used: Green leaves.
 Habitats: Largely grown in India, Srilanka and
China.
 Uses : Anti-bacterial, it’s a stimulating drink and
it relieves muscular and mental fatigue.
 Chemical constituents : Main substances for
activity are (+)-gallocatechin, (+)-epigallocatechin
and other polyphenolic compounds and Caffeine.
Caffeine

 Goldenseal
 Botanical name : Hydrastis canadensis (Linn.).
 Family name : Ranunculaceae.
 Part used: Green leaves.
 Habitats: Rich shady woods and moist areas on
woodland edges in north America.
 Uses : Anti-bacterial, astringent and anti
inflammatory.
 Chemical constituents : alkaloids,Hydrastine(1-
4%), Berberine (0.5-6%) , canadine and some
volatile oils.

Last but not the Least…
 Garlic (Lehsun)
 Botanical name : Allium sativum.
 Family name Alliaceae
 Part used: Bulb of Lehsun .
 Habitats: Cultivated all over the India.
 Uses : Anti-bacterial, and anti microbial.
 Chemical constituents : Bulb contains allicin,
diallyl disulfide, allyl propyl disulfide and other
sulphur compounds.
Allicin

Conclusion
Herbal drugs are now becoming more and more popular and are
tested for a lots of pharmacological actions because of their
advantages over the synthetic chemical compounds.Day by day
new herbal compounds are discovered and tested for their
applications in deadly diseases like Cancer, Influenza etc.
Recently the attack of H1N1 virus shocked the medical world
but in india the virus attack is largely prevented by some herbal
drugs like Tulsi and Giloy etc.
It shows that nature has gifted us with a lots of wealth and
protection, the only thing is to love the nature and discover it
for the human welfare.

The End

Herbal antibacterial drugs

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