Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn. plant extracts against pathogens causing bovine mastitis

Abstract

Mastitis is an infectious, inflammatory disease of mammary gland caused by various invading pathogenic microorganisms. Occurrence of this disease in bovine causes low yield of milk and huge economic loss to the dairy farming community. Antimicrobials are commonly used to treat mastitis. But, disadvantages like antimicrobial resistance, food residues, environmental pollution and high cost of antimicrobials prompted the search of alternative therapeutics. In this study, the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn. herb at different concentrations was evaluated for its antibacterial activity using disc diffusion method and compared with standard antibiotics. A total number of 125 milk samples were collected from mastitis cows and organisms like Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumonia were isolated and used for the demonstration of antibacterial activity by estimating the zone of inhibition. The results of present study revealed the antibacterial potential of Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn. herb extractsagainst mastitis causing pathogens. At higher concentration both extracts produced therapeutic level of zone of inhibition against pathogens, which is almost similar, that of gentamicin and tetracycline. Since the herbal extracts have proved for their antimicrobial properties they may become an alternative source for the treatment of mastitis in future with further detailed studies.