Antimicrobial and analgesic activities of Trikatu churna and its ingredients

Abstract

Trikatu churna is one of the Ayurvedic herbal preparations, practice against certain general health disorders such as cold, cough, appetizer, carminative, purgative etc. In the present study phytochemical, antibacterial, antifungal and analgesic activities of ethanolic extracts of Trikatu churna (equiproportions of powdered fruits of Piper nigrum L, Piper longum L and rhizome Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) and its individual components were tested for antimicrobial activity against certain clinical bacterial and fungal isolates, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Mucor species by in-vitro agar well diffusion method and analgesic activity by in-vivo hot plate method using mice. Trikatu churna was found to possess higher the rate of phytoconstituents, promising antimicrobial (non-specific) and moderate analgesic activities.