Antibacterial activity of medicinal plants on drug resistant bacteria

Infectious diseases caused by microorganisms are still a major threat to public health, despite the tremendous progress in human medicine. Their impact is particularly large in developing countries due to the relative unavailability of medicines and the emergence of widespread drug resistance. Current research on natural molecules and products primarily focuses on plants since they have been extensively described in Ayurvedic literatures and practiced routinely in Indian system of medicine. Present book describes the antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of medicinal plants against range of clinical isolates of multidrug resistant bacteria. Despite the lack of scientific understanding behind the mechanism of action present investigation demonstrate the immense potential of Ayurvedic medicines to be developed as alternative antimicrobial agents. Potential of medicinal plants mentioned in Ayurvedic literature, especially in a situation were available drugs are not effective following development of multidrug resistance in pathogens of clinical importance has been discussed.