PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PISTACIA INTEGERMA AGAINST MULTI DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIAL PATHOGENS ISOLATED FROM URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Abstract

Resistance against drugs has been developed as a result of the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs. Pistacia integerrima is an important medicinal plant and a member of family Anacardiaceae and subfamily Anacardioideae. It is a dioecious tree that is native to Asia specifically Pakistan, East Afghanistan and North and West Himalaya to Kumaon. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the galls of P. integerrima against bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections. A total of 36 urine samples were collected from the infected individuals. They were processed according to the standard procedures. Gram staining and different biochemical tests were performed for confirmation of organisms i.e. Catalase, Oxidase, Coagulase, TSI (Triple Sugar Iron), Urease, Indole and Citrate Tests. It was observed that the E. coli (33%) was the most predominant specie isolated from UTI patients followed by Proteus spp. (22%). Pseudomonas spp. accounted for 19% whereas Bacillus for 13.8%. The phytochemical analysis of the plant was done and it was ascertained that alkaloids were present in galls-extracts, obtained with ethanol, methanol and water. Flavonoids and tannins were present in ethanolic and aqueous extract whereas absent in methanolic extract. However, saponins were not found in all the tested extracts. Well diffusion method was used for the evaluation of antibacterial activity of the extracts. Bacillus spp. showed highest zone of inhibition against ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extract i.e. 22 mm, 24 mm and 10 mm respectively. It was noticed that the extract showed best results at 100 µl concentration. Therefore, the extract of Pistacia integerrima is recommended to be used in case of Urinary tract infections.