ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF TRIPHALA: AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATION

Triphala, an ancient Ayurvedic formulation composed of the dried fruits of Emblica officinalis (Amla), Terminalia chebula (Haritaki), and Terminalia bellerica (Bahera), is widely recognized for its broad-spectrum therapeutic applications. This study aimed to scientifically evaluate its phytochemical composition, antimicrobial efficacy, and antioxidant potential using different solvent extracts. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanolic extract was the most bioactive, containing alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids,and phlobatannins. Antimicrobial testing against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using the disc diffusion method demonstrated significant activity in ethanolic and aqueous extracts, with the ethanolic extract showing the highest inhibition zones. Furthe rmore, DPPH radical scavenging assays confirmed the antioxidant capacity of both ethanolic and aqueous extracts in a dose-dependent manner, although their efficacy was lower than that of standard ascorbic acid. These results substantiate the traditional use of Triphala and highlight its potential as a natural source of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Further phytochemical characterization and in vivo studies are recommended for clinical validation