Effect of <i>Mesua ferrea</i> Linn. flower extract on <i>Salmonella</i>

Abstract

Based on its traditional uses in folk medicine, the whole flower extract of <i>Mesua ferrea</i> Linn. was tested for its <i>in vitro</i> antimicrobial efficacy against five different strains of <i>Salmonella</i>

spp. All the strains were found to be highly sensitive to the extract. MIC of the extract against each organism being 50 μg/ml. The extract was tested <i>in vitro</i> for its mode of antibacterial activity against <i>S</i>. Typhimurium NCTC 74 and it was found to be bactericidal in action. <i>In vivo</i> studies of this extract offered significant protection to Swiss albino mice at doses ≈ 2 and 4 mg/mouse when challenged with 50 median lethal dose of <i>S</i>. Typhimurium NCTC 74. Further, the ex tract caused statistically significant reduction in viable count of the strain in liver, spleen and heart blood of challenged mice.