EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSENTERICA BARK EXTRACT IN E.COLI CALF DIARRHEA.

In the present study, ethanolic extracts of Holarrhena antidysenterica bark was screened for its antibacterial property against E. coli isolates. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by measuring the inhibition zones produced by the extract. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the ethanolic extract of H. antidysenterica exhibiting antibacterial activity. Comparative efficacy of the therapy evaluated by Trial of three different drug regimens i.e. parenteral Gentamicin (Group I), parenteral Gentamicin with oral herbal extracts (Group II) and oral herbal extracts (Group III) were undertaken separately in 5 different calves in each group. The comparative therapeutic evaluation indicated that in case of treatment with parenteral Gentamicin alone and with oral herbal alone the complete recovery took as long as 5 days post treatment where as the other drug regimens (parenteral Gentamicin and oral herbal extract) were equally found effective and bringing faster recovery to near normal by day 3 post treatment. The ethanolic extract of H. antidysenterica was equally effective against E. coli induced diarrhea in calves. It is therefore concluded that ethanolic extract of H. antidysenterica can be used along with Gentamicin in the treatment of E.coli induced calf diarrhea for faster and complete recovery of calves.