Phcog.Net logo
Submit

BROWSE ALL JOURNALS

    SEE ALL 6 JOURNALS
    Pharmacognosy CommunicationsNOW IN
    Article

    Lack of Antibacterial Activity in the Ayurvedic Plants Aconitum heterophyllum, Tephrosia purpurea, Tinospora cordifolia and Swertia chirayita

    Gagan Tiwana1, Ian Edwin Cock2, Matthew James Cheesman1★★ Corresponding author

    1. 1School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA.
    2. 2School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA.

    CORRESPONDENCE

    Matthew James Cheesman

    School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA.

    m.cheesman@griffith.edu.au

    Received: 24-12-2025; Revised: 16-01-2026; Accepted: 03-02-2026.

    Volume 16, Issue 1 · pp. 14–38 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.5530/pc.2026.1.3

    View on Pharmacogn. Commn. original site ↗

    ABSTRACT

    Background:The global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has intensified the search for alternative therapeutic agents derived from natural sources. This study investigated the antibacterial potential of four Ayurvedic medicinal plants Aconitum heterophyllum, Tephrosia purpurea, Tinospora cordifolia, and Swertia chirayita. Traditionally, these plants have been used in the management of various infectious diseases. Objectives:The ability for extracts of these pants to inhibit a panel of different bacterial pathogens was assessed. The bacteria included in the study were Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus(MRSA), Escherichia coli,extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, ESBL K. pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella typhimurium. Materials and Methods: Plants were extracted with water, methanol or ethyl acetate and their antibacterial activities evaluated using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Artemia franciscanalethality assays were used to measure extract toxicity, whilst LC-MS analysis was conducted on the plant extracts to identify and characterise their chemical constituents, which may explain the findings arising from the antibacterial experiments.Results: There was no detectable antibacterial activity for any of the plant extracts tested against the selected bacterial strains. Each of the extracts were non-toxic in the Artemia franciscanalethality assay. LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and other secondary metabolites within the extracts. Conclusion:The lack of activity may be due to the poor quality or potency of the plant materials obtained from commercial suppliers, low concentrations of active constituents, solvent limitations, or possible synergistic effects lost in crude extracts. Further studies using authenticated plant materials from different suppliers, optimised extraction and testing protocols are recommended to more rigorously evaluate their antibacterial potential.

    KEYWORDS

    Open in new tab

    REFERENCES

    As published

    Showing references and in-text citations exactly as published.

      Cite this article

      SELECT FORMAT

      Tiwana, G., Cock, I. E., & Cheesman, M. J. (). Lack of Antibacterial Activity in the Ayurvedic Plants Aconitum heterophyllum, Tephrosia purpurea, Tinospora cordifolia and Swertia chirayita. Pharmacognosy Communications, 16(1), 14–38. https://doi.org/10.5530/pc.2026.1.3