IN VITRO EVALUATION FOR ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF TUTTHA BHASMA IN COMPARISON WITH GENTAMICIN AND AMPHOTERECIN B

In Ayurveda, Tuttha is one among the Maharasa varga, which has been indicated in various diseases like skin diseases, eye disorders, obesity, pain, asthma, hyper acidity, hemorrhoids etc and the properties of Tuttha is mentioned as Cakshusya (good for eyes), Kandughna (reduces itch), Vishaghna (reduces toxic effect) and Krimighna (antimicrobial). This present study was aimed to validate the Krimighna property of Tuttha bhasma by screening for antibacterial activity against two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli) bacteria and antifungal activity against two fungi (Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum) in comparison with standard drugs Gentamicin and Amphotericin B respectively, via Kirby-Bauer method. It was found that, the antibacterial activity of Tuttha bhasma at 20 mg was equivalent to the inhibition shown by 1 mg of Gentamicin, and antifungal activity was equivalent to standard drug Amphotericin B at 1 mg. The present study was found to be valid in its anti microbial activity or Krimighna as mentioned in Ayurvedic classics.