Anti-pathogenic potential of a classical ayurvedic formulation- Triphala

Abstract

A classical ayurvedic polyherbal formulation namely Triphala was assessed for its anti-pathogenic potential against five different pathogenic bacteria. Virulence of four of them towards the model host Caenorhabditis elegans was attenuated (by 18-45%) owing to pre-treatment with Triphala (≤20 µg/ml). Triphala could also exert significant therapeutic effect on worms already infected with Chromobacterium violaceum, Serratia marcescens or Staphylococcus aureus. Prophylactic use of Triphala allowed worms to score 14-41% better survival in face of subsequent pathogen challenge. Repeated exposure to this formulation induced resistance in S. marcescens, but not in P. aeruginosa. It also exerted a post-extract effect (PEE) on three of the test pathogens. Triphala was able to modulate production of quorum sensing (QS)-regulated pigments in three of the multidrug-resistant gram-negative test bacteria. Haemolytic activity of S. aureus was heavily inhibited under the influence of this formulation. P. aeruginosa's lysozyme-susceptibility was found to increase by ~25-43% upon Triphala-pretreatment. These results validate therapeutic potential of one of the most widely used polyherbal ayurvedic formulations called Triphala.

Anti-pathogenic potential of a classical ayurvedic Triphala formulation

“…When the TF-treated bacteria were subsequently subcultured on TF-free media, their daughter populations were unable to exert virulence at par with that of control (DMSO-treated parent culture having no TF-exposure). In case of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus , this PEE lasted up to the second subculturing, whereas in the case of S. marcescens PEE lasted until first subculturing [ Figure 3 ; underlying data ( Patel et al ., 2019c )].…”

“…Anti-infective assay. When all the five pathogens were pre-treated with 0.5-100 µg/ml of TF before being allowed to attack C. elegans, Triphala formulation (TF) was able to attenuate virulence of all test pathogens except S. pyogenes at ≤20 µg/ml [ Figure 1 ; underlying data ( Patel et al ., 2019c )]. Worms challenged with TF-treated pathogens demonstrated 18–45.50% better survival than those challenged with TF-unexposed pathogens.…”

“…Worms challenged with TF-treated pathogens demonstrated 18–45.50% better survival than those challenged with TF-unexposed pathogens. Effect of catechin and standard antibiotics used as positive controls on bacterial virulence is shown in Figure 2 [underlying data ( Patel et al ., 2019c )].…”

“…Against S. aureus , TF was effective only if the worms were given TF-treatment early (i.e. 6 hour-post infection) [ Figure 4 ; underlying data ( Patel et al ., 2019c )]. TF could also not rescue the worms if they already had a mixed infection ( S. aureus and P. aeruginosa ).…”

“…Videos of some of the in vivo assays were captured on the fifth day of the experiment, using an inverted microscope (Nikon Eclipse Ti) under 4X objective lens, wherein 100 µl of the liquid content from 24-well assay plate was transferred onto a large cover slip for observation and video capturing [see extended data ( Patel et al ., 2019c )].…”