Antibacterial activity of Valeriana jatamansi against extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Gram-negative bacteria causing urinary tract infections

Objective:To find out the antibacterial activity of Valeriana jatamansi(V.jatamansi)rhizomes against the extended-spectrumβ-lactamases(ESBLs)producing isolates of Enterobacteriaceae family.Methods:Confirmation of ESBLs producing Escherichia coli,Enterobacter aerogenes,Klebsiella pneumoniae and Hafnia alvei isolated from urinary tract infections was performed by double disc diffusion assay.Antimicrobial susceptibility of all ESBLs producing isolates was determined by disc diffusion method following guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.Successive extraction of rhizomes of V.jatamansi was performed with hexane,chloroform and methanol using Soxhelt apparatus.These extracts were tested against the ESBLs producing isolates using well diffusion method.Results:Hexane extract showed significant results as compared to chloroform and methanol extracts with the maximum zone of inhibition(21 mm)while ciprofloxacin and amikacin were used as standard drugs.Conclusions:Findings of the study suggested that hexane extract of V.jatamansi can be used in combination with other antibiotics as alternative treatment for urinary tract infections caused by ESBLs producing strains of Enterobacteriaceae.