Abstract

Plants have been used for medicinal purpose since ancient times. Secondary metabolites of medicinal plants have shown to possess curing activity against different ailments as well as infections caused by microorganisms. Salmonellosis, a foodborne infection, is emerging as a life threatening disease because of drug resistant strains of Salmonella spp. In present investigations, plants Casuarina equisetifolia and Sphaeranthus indicus were found to possess significant inhibitory activity against Salmonella species. HPTLC and bioautography assay of methanolic extracts of C. equisetifolia indicated polyphenols as major active compounds against S. typhi. The present study indicates that the polyphenols of this plant can be used as a potential drug against infectious disease caused by S. typhi.