Antimicrobial analysis of Triphala and comparison with its individual constituents

Triphala, a well known ayurvedic formulation is used against number of ailments since ancient times. It consists of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellerica in equal proportion. Triphala as a whole and its three individual constituents show specific antimicrobial activity against certain bacteria and fungi. Antimicrobial activity of aqueous extract of triphala and its constituents was studied against P.aeruginasa, E.coli , B.subtilis, K. pneumoniae and S.aureus by cup-plate method. Triphala was found strongly bactericidal against P. aeruginosa with 1.8 cm of inhibitory zone. This was on account of T. chebula which showed 1.2 cm of inhibitory zone against the same pathogen, followed by E. coli and other two Gram positive bacteria. T. bellerica however showed maximum inhibitory activity against B.subtilis by showing 2.2 cm of inhibitory zone. It was confirmed that antimicrobial activity against Gram negative bacteria is due to T. chebula and E. officinalis while antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria is on account of T. bellerica. Antifungal activity of Triphala and its constituents was studied against two pathogenic fungi viz. Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans by the same method. Triphala was found more efficient against A. niger, this was on account of T. bellerica which showed nearly 2 cm zone of inhibition. T. bellerica and Triphala showed more than 2 cm inhibitory zone against C. albicans. Inhibitory zone of Emblica officinalis was observed to be of 1.5-2 cm against both the fungi, whereas T. chebula did not show inhibitory activity against C. albicans but showed nearly 1 cm of inhibitory zone against A. niger. This confirms that the antifungal activity of Triphala is primarily due to T. bellerica and E. offiicinalis