Abstract

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial activity of guggul gum samples on clinically important bacteria of animal health significance. Methods: Four samples of guggul gum (GG) and their methanolic extracts (GGE) were tested for antimicrobial activity through incorp oration in to growth medium and using discs (5 mg) diffusion assay, respectively. Min imum inhibitory concentration was determined by the agar well dilution method. A total of 128 strains belon ging to 39 species of bacteria were tested. Results: From four samples of guggul gum (25 g each), 4.069 (±0.231) g of methanolic extract (GGE) was o btained. None of the gums or GGEs inhibited >23.4% of the strains tested. No significant difference was observed between G ram+ve (58) and G ram-ve (70) bacteria for their sensitivity to GGs/GGEs. Cotrimoxazole resistant strains had a higher probability of being resistant to GGs/ GGEs (p, 0.01). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of GGE for bacteria ranged between 0.5 ->10 mg/ml. MIC was minimum (0.5 mg/ ml) fo r Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus pyogenes strains, but no specific trend of MIC for different groups of ba cteria was evident. Escherichia coli strains had a slightly higher probability of being sensitive to GGs/ GGEs than of Burkholderia strains (p, 0.09). Conclusions: Guggul gum had a broad spectrum antim icrobial activity but limited to only a few strains. Guggul gum may retain its antimicrobial activity even after aut oclaving after incorporation in to growth medium.