in vitro antibacterial activities of Withania somnifera, Citrullus colocynthis and Piper nigrum against subclinical mastitis bacterial pathogens of cows

The aim of present study was to exploring antibacterial activity of roots of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), fruit pulp of Citrullus colocynthis (Bitter apple fruit) and pepper corn of Piper nigrum (Black pepper) popularly used in the arid and semi arid area of Rajasthan, India for treatment of various ailments. Milk samples were collected aseptically from subclinical mastitis affected cows. Cultural examination of milk samples was carried out for isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens. The antibacterial activity of Withania somnifera, Citrullus colocynthis and Piper nigrum extracts were tested by agar cup method at different concentration viz. 250 mg/ml, 125 mg/ml, 62.5 mg/ml, 31.25 mg/ml and 15.62 mg/ml against bacterial isolates of bovine subclinical mastitis. The Withania somnifera and polyherb mixture showed good antibacterial activity in comparison to Citrullus colocynthis and Piper nigrum extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus chromogens, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from natural cases of bovine subclinical mastitis. The alcoholic extracts Citrullus colocynthis and Piper nigrum showed moderate antibacterial activity.