All the bacterial strains used in the present study are disease
causing species, particularly on humans. K. pneumoniae causes
necrosis and inflammation in human beings, urinary tract
infections, meningitis and other related problems. While S.
aureus is a source of nosocomial infections as well as enterotoxins,
P. vulgaris and E. coli cause urinary tract infections
and S. typhi causes typhoid fever. Diseases due to these bacterial
strains are prevalent in the Indian subcontinent and antibiotics
are turning out to be quite expensive to a larger
segment of the population. As a developing country, in India
investigations on phytochemicals of ethnomedicinal origin
are extremely needed for the development of affordable antibiotics
and hence the present study finds the necessity.