Journal of Pharmacy Research Vol.5 Issue 1.January 2012 Divya Kajaria et al. / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2012,5(1),416-419 416-419 Research Article ISSN: 0974-6943 Available online through www.jpronline.info * Corresponding author. Prof. S.K.Tiwari* M.D. Ph.D Professor & Head of Department Fax: 05422367568 Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Ayurveda, Department of Kayachikitsa, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. INTRODUCTION Successful therapeutic use of herbal compounds is in practiced since time immemorial. They are used in globally, and have been relied upon to support, promote, retain and regain the human health. There is growing acceptance that traditional medicines are appropriate and effective in treatment or con- trol of certain diseases [1,2,3] . The impact of traditional medicines, in both the economic and health sectors, has resulted in a public demand for increased accountability in the traditional medicines market place. Consumers want to know that their products meet acceptable criteria to be considered both safe and effective. This has led to an increased interest among health authorities in research, regulation, international trade and marketing of traditional medi- cines. It is estimated that at least 25% of all modern medicines are derived, either directly or indirectly from medicinal plants, primarily through the application of modern technology to traditional knowledge. In case of certain classes of pharmaceuticals, such as antitumoral and antimicrobial medicines, this percentage may be as high as 60% [3,4,5] . The global market for traditional medicines in 2008 was estimated at US$ 83 billion annually, with a rate of increase that has been exponential. This data explain the increasing demand and need of herbal medicine worldwide. Ayurveda is traditional system of Qualitative phytochemical characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of a polyherbal compound- Bharangyadi Divya Kajaria 1 , Mayank Gangwar 2 , Dharmendra Kumar 2 , Amit Kumar Sharma 3 , Gopal Nath 2 , Ragini Tilak 2 , Yamini Bhusan Tripathi 3 , J.S.Tripathi 1 , S.K.Tiwari 1* 1 Faculty of Ayurveda, Department of Kayachikitsa, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India. 2 Department of Microbiology, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India. 3 Department of Medicinal Chemistry, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India. Received on:20-09-2011; Revised on: 15-10-2011; Accepted on:10-12-2011 ABSTRACT With the increasing misuse of antibiotics over the past 6 decades against conventional antimicrobial agents is on increasing therefore, it is now contemporary to search some safe and effective alternative. Keeping this view in mind the present investigation was carried out to examine the ethanolic extract of polyherbal compound (Bharangyadi compound) for its phytochemical components and in-vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity. The phytochemical tests were carried out by using standard methods of analysis. Presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins and tannins were revealed by the analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the plant extract was assayed against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27893, Salmonella typhi MTCC 3216, Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 7966, Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Shigella flexineri ATCC 12022, Bacillus subtilis, Plesiomonas shigelloides ATCC 14029 (Gram-negative), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25323 (Gram-positive) and Candida albicans ATCC 90028,Can- dida krusei ATCC 6258, Candida tropicalis ATCC 750, Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 using the disc diffusion and micro dilution techniques. The result showed the MIC of 12.5 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida species and 10-20 mg/ml against remaining bacteria tested. The study revealed that the extracts possessed antibacterial and antifungal activity in a dose dependent manner. Thus use of this herbal preparation in the treatment of respiratory tract infections may be justified. Key words: Antibacterial activity, Bharangyadi Polyherbal drug, in-vitro, phytochemical, ethanolic extract, antifungal. Indian medicine using mainly herbal products for curing diseases. In Ayurvedic system of medicine mainly polyherbal compounds are used for the treatment of Asthma. Clerodendrum serratum, Hedychium spicatum and Inula racemosa, are extensively used in Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of Bronchial Asthma. Bharangi ( Clerodendrum serratum) is found to have anti-inflammatory [6,7] , antihistaminic, antiallergic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties [8] . In Ayurvedic system of medicine, it is mainly used in respiratory tract diseases. Sati (Hedicium spicatum) is found to possess hypotensive, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, antispasmodic, tranquillizer, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, CNS-depressant, hypothermic, spasmolytic & analgesic effects [9,10] . Pushkarmoola ( Inula racemosa) has been found prove beneficial for cardiovascular system, angina and dyspnoea [11,12] . Bharangyadi is a mixture of Clerodendrum serratum, Hedychium spicatum and Inula racemosa. Therefore this study was planned assess the ethanolic extract of polyherbal compound (Bharangyadi) for antimicrobial and preliminary phytochemical characterization to justify its use in treatment of infectious respiratory disor- ders. PLANT MATERIAL AND EXTRACTION The plants Clerodendrum serratum, Hedychium spicatum and Inula racemosa were collected from local market of Varanasi (India). The identification of the plants was done by Prof. A. K. Singh, Department of Dravyaguna, S.S.U.,Varanasi. Bharangyadi group contains Bharangi ( Clerodendrum serratum), Sati (Hedychium spicatum) and Pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa) Hydroalcoholic Extraction (Distilled water: Ethanol = 2:1) of drug were done separately by hot percolation method through soxhlet apparatus. Thereafter extract was dried using rotary evaporator and dried extract was put to the process of standardization.