~ 41 ~ International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2016; 4(5): 41-43 E-ISSN: 2321-2187 P-ISSN: 2394-0514 IJHM 2016; 4(5): 41-43 Received: 09-07-2016 Accepted: 10-08-2016 Dr. Mehul M Sheta Resident Doctor, Microbiology Department C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India. Dr. Kunjan M Kikani (Ph.D.) Professor, Microbiology Department C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India. Parth Kavathia C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India. Jainy Thakkar C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India. Twinkle Rangnani C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India. Correspondence Dr. Mehul M Sheta Microbiology Department C. U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India. E-mail: sheta.mehul@gmail.com Study of antimicrobial activity of Triphala and its individual components Mehul M Sheta, Kunjan M Kikani, Parth Kavathia, Jainy Thakkar and Twinkle Rangnani Abstract Drug resistance has developed due to indiscriminate use of existing allopathic antimicrobial drugs and become a global health problem. This resistance problem demands renewed efforts to seek antimicrobial agents from other sources. Herbal Products of higher plants has antimicrobial compounds with possibly novel mechanism of action with minimum side effects. Triphala is a herbal formulation, consisting of equal parts of fruits of Amla (Emblica officinalis), Harde (Terminalia chebula) and Baheda (Terminalia bellerica). These are claimed to have antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial effects. Present study was aimed to identify antimicrobial effect of Triphala and its individual components against common bacterial isolates, Candida and to compare the antimicrobial effect of water and DMSO based extracts of it. Triphala and its components were dissolved in distilled water and also in DMSO to get a final concentration of 100 mg/ml. Suspensions of S. aureus, Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, Enterococci sp., Lactobacillus sp., E. coli, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Candida sp. were inoculated on Mueller Hinton agar (MHA). Wells were made on MHA plates and herbal extract (100 μl) were added in to it. After 18 hours of incubation at 35 °C, zone of inhibition surrounding wells were measured and recorded. We have observed antimicrobial activity of each component against most of organisms. It was also observed that triphala is having more antimicrobial effect compared to its individual components. We had not observed significant difference in antimicrobial effect between water and DMSO extracts of these herbal preparations. Keywords: Triphala, amla, Harde, Baheda, antimicrobial effect 1. Introduction In recent years, drug resistance has been developed due to indiscriminate use of existing allopathic antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of infectious diseases and has become a global public health problem [1] . This resistance problem demands a renewed effort to seek antimicrobial agents from other sources effective against pathogens [2] . Herbal Products of higher plants has antimicrobial compounds with possibly novel mechanism of action [3, 4] . That are effective for treatment of infectious diseases and also not having side effects that often associated with conventional antibiotics [5] . Triphala is an herbal formulation, consisting of equal parts of fruits of three medicinal plants namely, Amla - Emblica officinalis Gaertn (Family: Euphorbiaceae), Harde - Terminalia chebula Retz (Family: Combretaceae) and Baheda - Terminalia belerica (Gaertner) Roxb (Family: Combretaceae). Triphala is traditionally prescribed in ayurveda for various diseases since antiquity. The fruit components of Triphala are claimed to have antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial effects [6] . Present study has been designed to evaluate antimicrobial potential of Triphala as a whole and its individual components against common pathogens. 2. Aims and Objectives  To study anti-bacterial effect of Triphala and its individual components against common bacterial isolates.  To study anti-fungal effect of Triphala and its individual components against Candida sp.  To compare the antimicrobial effects of water based and DMSO based extracts of Triphala and its individual components.