Antibacterial Activity of Tridax procumbens with Special Reference to Nosocomial Pathogens

Aims: To evaluate the aqueous as well as ethanolic extracts of Tridax procumbens L., (Asteraceae) against various bacterial pathogens including strains obtained from community acquired and nosocomial infections.
Study design: Experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology and Department of Pharmacology, M.G.M. Medical College and M.G.M. New Bombay Hospital, Navi Mumbai, India, between July 2010 and December 2010.
Methodology: After authentication of the plant, extracts were prepared from the leaves of T. procumbens using Soxhlet apparatus. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were tested against some standard strains as well as clinical isolates of different bacteria by agar well diffusion technique. Nosocomial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from different clinical samples were also tested.
Results: While the aqueous extract had no antibacterial activity, the alcoholic extract showed significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract against the nosocomial strains of Pseudomonas was significantly more compared to that of antibiotics such as augmentin, cefotaxime, and ciprofloxacin.
Conclusion: Narrow spectrum preparations like extracts of Tridax leaves may be useful for successful therapy against multidrug resistant pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.