Ethnic Knowledge to Combat Fungal & Bacterial Endocarditis in Neonates- Exploring Aptness of Some Indigenous Plants from Kandhamal, Odisha

Infective endocarditis in neonates after surgery or due to other hospital related intervention is a rare but serious infection of the heart lining or valves usually caused by bacteria or fungus entering the bloodstream and attaching to the heart. Our intention in this research work is to explore anti-microbial potential of some rare plants from tribal belts of Kandhamal, Odisha against these life-threatening micro-organisms which affect immuno-compromised patients. We have selected four plants (Cayratia trifolia, Sesbania grandiflora, Cordia dichotoma, and Teprosia purpurea) mostly used by Kutia Kandhas of Kandhamal region found in the hill areas of eastern ghat region. We have carried out efficacy of various extracts of these plants against gram (+) ve bacteria (St. aureus, St. viridans, St. epidermidis); gram (–ve) bacteria (Sal. Enterica, E. coli, Pr. Vulgaris, P. aeruginosa) and fungi (A. brasiliensis, C. albicans) as per standard protocol. The results were very encouraging as all those solvents extracts collected from specific parts of these plants have shown anti-microbial property among which, medium polar ethyl acetate extracts were considered as most effective against these microbial species responsible for the above disease.