title: In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the inhibitory effect of Limnophila indica (Linn.) Druce on shigellosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The research aimed to evaluate the anti-Shigella and antacid activities of the methanolic extract of Limnophila indica.
  
  
  METHODS
  The whole plant of L. indica was extracted using methanol and then subjected to preliminary chemical screening. The in vitro antibacterial screening on two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria as well as three Shigella species of which two bacteria were antibiotic-resistant were evaluated by disc diffusion method. Castor oil-induced diarrhoea on Wistar albino rats was performed by using loperamide as a standard control. The in vitro antacid activity was tested by artificial stomach model. The neutralization efficiency, capacity, volume and hydrogen ions consumed were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preliminary chemical screening on methanolic extract of L.indica showed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, fats and oils. It was proved to be a potent antibacterial agent against the four bacterial strains. Screening against Shigella species revealed that it was a powerful antibacterial agent towards antibiotic-resistant Shigella species. In the case of in vivo antidiarrheal activity, the plant has shown a dose-dependent activity and the lowest dose at 100 mg/kg gave a much better result than loperamide (P<0.01). The in vitro antacid study showed a mild activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the plant L. indica has been proved to be a competent antibacterial as well as a compelling antidiarrheal agent with mild antacid activity, this plant can be very well suggested to be an eminent substitute for the various synthetic anti-dysentery and antidiarrheal agents available in the market.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Nalanda College of Pharmacy, Cherlapally, Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India. sanpharm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sandhya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subhadra
authors.forename: Gouthami
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gade
authors.forename: Vinod Kombath
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: Vidya Sravanthi
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Emani
authors.forename: Saikumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parre
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Banji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000863:Antacids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012760:Shigella / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts