Antibacterial efficacy of Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith (Polypodiaceae) against clinically isolated urinary tract pathogens

Abstract

To make scientific validation of the ethnomedicinal fern Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith in relation to urinary disorders. Antibacterial study was carried out on clinically isolated Urinary Tract Infecting (UTI) bacteria by disc diffusion method. Among the six extracts tested against eight different UTI bacteria, acetone extract was effective against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus pyogenes, while ethanol extract was effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Preliminary phytochemical screening shows the presence of phytoconstituents viz. phenols, tannin, alkaloids, proteins, xanthoproteins, carboxylic acid, coumarins and saponins. Based on the present study, along with previous studies, the ethnomedicinal use of Drynaria quercifolia for the treatment of urinary infection has been scientifically validated.