ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THE FRUIT EXTRACT OF PHYSALIS ANGULATA AND ITS FORMULATION

Abstract

The inhibitory activity of zinc oxide-ointment formulation as well as the unformulated crude ex-tract of fruits of Physalis angulata was investigated against clinical wound isolates of Staphylococ-cus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The zinc oxide-ointment formulation and the unformu-lated P. angulata crude extract were found to be ineffective against P. aeruginosa at all concentra-tions used, but potent against S. aureus at varying degrees. The zinc oxide-ointment (100 mg g-1, 125 mg g-1 and 150 mg g-1) and P. angulata crude extract/zinc oxide-ointment (100 mg g-1, 125 mg g-1 and 150 mg g-1) formulations were only slightly active against S. aureus at the highest concentra-tion of 150 mg g-1. The unformulated P. angulata crude extract alone exhibited the highest inhibito-ry activity against S. aureus at all concentrations used with zones of inhibition between 34.5 mm and 50.5 mm, followed by a formulation of the extract with only oleaginous base (ointment), with zones of inhibition between 12.8 mm and 20.3 mm. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of these values compared with the activity of Chloramphenicol (positive control) indicated significant inhibitory activity by the unformulated P angulata crude extract and the extract and ointment for-mulation against S. aureus thus suggesting their efficacy in treating staphylococcal infections.