A controlled in vitro study of the effectiveness of Tulbagia Violacea in herbal tincture and homoeopathic dilution (1X and 6X) against gram- positive and gram negative bacteria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect that Tulbagia violacea ethanolic herbal tincture, and Tulbagia violacea IX and 6X homoeopathic potencies, had 011 the in vitro growth inhibition of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus ourens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacil/us cereus respectively, as compared to a ethanol negative control. The final results were expressed as a ratio to the values obtained from gentamyein and vancomycin. Measurement was by means of the discdiffusion assay. For this study fifteen Mueller-Hinton agar plates were prepared and inoculated with each test bacteria in turn. Filter paper discs were individually inoculated with the sample substances and the control using a micropipette, before being allowed to air dry, One disc each of the Tulbagia violacea herbal tincture, 1X potency, 6X potency, ethanol control, as well as a gentamyein and vancomycin disc were placed equidistantly apart on each plate, The gentamyein and vancomycin discs were included in the experiment with the sole purpose of accounting for plate-to-plate variations in the pharmacological sensitivity of the same species of bacteria, The plates were incubated at 37\xB0C, and the zones of inhibitions measured with a pair of Vernier callipers at ] 8 hour, 24 hour and 36 hour intervals. Il Data entry and analysis was done using the SPSS\xAE statistical package, The Friedman test was used for intra-group comparison of each test or control substance at 18 hours, 24 hours and 36 hours. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the mean inhibition zones produced by the test and control substance after 18 hours, 24 hours and 36 hours of incubation. The tests were performed at a=O.05 (5%) level of significance, The results obtained were that the Tulbagia violacea herbal tincture, and IX and 6X nomoeopathic potencies did not produce a statistically significant inhibitive effect on