Abstract :
Plan: The study involves the antibacterial screening the methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia and its preliminary phytochemical analysis.
Preface: Bacterial infections have become increasingly difficult to treat because of multi-drug resistance. Although bacteria have over 200 specific protein targets for therapy, only three are most successfully exploited now. Bacterial cell division proteins are attractive targets for drug development. The "Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) protein is a major protein of the bacterial cell division machinery and is a potential target for therapy. Inhibition of FtsZ protein results in the inability of bacteria to divide and hence they die. Plant secondary metabolites have been shown to have antibacterial activities. However, their mechanism of action is not thoroughly investigated.
Methodology: In this study, we have used the methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia plant and tested its anti-microbial action by zone inhibition method.
Outcome: Although the T.cordifolia extract did not show high anti-bacterial activity by disc diffusion assay, the E.coli showed elongated structures in the presence of T.cordifolia extract suggesting that the extract is interfering with the bacterial cell division. HPLC analysis of the extract showed the presence of Berberin, which may be the active molecule in inhibiting FtsZ protein and subsequent cell division.
Keyword :
E.coli, Bacterial cell division, FtsZ, Berberine, Tinospora cordifolia.