title: Antibacterial potential of an antispasmodic drug dicyclomine hydrochloride.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several compounds are known to possess antimicrobial activity in addition to their predesignated pharmacological actions. In the present study, dicyclomine hydrochloride, an antispasmodic drug, was tested for possible antimicrobial property in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of dicyclomine against the bacteria was determined by agar and broth dilution methods in vitro. The antibacterial activity of dicyclomine was confirmed by animal experiments. Toxicity and protective efficacy of the drug were tested in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dicyclomine inhibited most of the bacterial isolates tested at 25-100 microg/ml concentration, and a few were sensitive even at a lower concentration (10 microg/ml). Dicyclomine was found to be bacteriostatic in nature against Shigella dysenteriae 7, and bactericidal against S. aureus NCTC 6571, 8530, and 8531. When administered to Swiss white mice at doses of 30 and 60 microg/mouse, dicyclomine protected the animals challenged with 50 MLD of Salmonella typhimurium NCTC 74.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dicyclomine showed inhibitory action against several pathogenic bacteria. It also offered significant protection to mice against the bacterial challange. As dicyclomine is in routine therapeutic use, it may be developed as a potent antimicrobial agent in many infections.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karak
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Kaushiki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
authors.forename: Musfiqua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mookerjee
authors.forename: Sujata G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dastidar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004025:Dicyclomine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D004025:Dicyclomine