A Comprehensive Review On The Antimicrobial Activity Of Siddha Formulations Against Antimicrobial Resistant Strains

Abstract

Infectious diseases are caused by a number of pathogenic organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi,, etc. The invention of Antibiotics has served like a boon for mankind in order to fight these diseases and it has also benefitted human beings by increasing life expectancy. On the other hand, antibiotics not only inhibit the growth of the pathogens but also destroy the normal microbial flora of the body thereby leading to adverse side effects. While antibiotics possess many major side effects on human health and also cause dangerous risks, the emergence of Antibiotic Resistant strains has been a global threat. Hence in the present day world, majority of the world’s population is moving towards the use of herbal medicine and the treatment of disease through Traditional systems of medicine of their own geographical area. Such an Indian Traditional Medicine is the Siddha system. In this study, the Siddha system of medicine is described which is mostly used in the treatment of various major diseases across the globe in a traditional way and is an old and unique method for disease management. Emergence of Drug Resistant strains has increased the utility of Siddha medicines and its acknowledgement is on the increasing pace as it does causes less or no side effects. The Siddha system not only diagnoses the disease with excellence but also prescribes a number of ways to live a hale and healthy disease free life. Furthermore, there are many Siddha formulations that possess antimicrobial activity against many pathogenic organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi. They are also witnessed to have antimicrobial activity against drug resistant strains of pathogens. The present study focuses on the potential of Siddha formulations against the drug resistant strains of pathogenic microbes.