In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of methanolic fruit extract of Terminalia bellerica against causative organism of Bovine Mastitis

The antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of Terminalia bellerica (T. bellerica) dry fruit was tested by disc diffusion method, against 3 mastitis causing pathogens, two gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae ) and one gram negative (Escherichia coli) strains of bacteria have been investigated. The antibiotic susceptibility test of the microorganisms to the methanolic extract of T. bellerica was compared with standards drug i.e. Ciprofloxacin. Methanolic extract of Terminalia bellerica against S. aureus was found to be highly susceptible forming highest zone of inhibition, suggesting that T. bellerica was strongly inhibitory towards this organism. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extracts were also determined using broth dilution method. These results indicate that T. bellerica dry fruit possesses potential antimicrobial activity.