Validation of medicinal values of traditionally used Sonchus asper (prickly sow thistle) leaves for the treatment of skin ailments

Abstract

The plant Sonchus asper has been used for the cure of skin ailments and many other disease conditions. Thus, the study was planned to compare the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities of aqueous and methanolic extract of S. asper against bacterial pathogens viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cerus and Klebsiella pneumoniae and fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. The findings of study indicated that the plant possesses antibacterial activity; however, it showed more inhibitory results against the Gram positive bacteria in comparison to Gram negative bacteria. Methanolic extract of S. asper showed activity against E. coli whereas S. aureus and B. cerus were inhibited by both methanolic and aqueous extracts. Bacterial isolate of K. pneumoniae and both the fungal species were resistant to both methanolic and aqueous extracts of S. asper as no zone of inhibition was observed during the experiments. The extracts of S. asper showed best activity against S. aureus, the most common pathogen of skin ailments particularly boil and wounds, thus findings of the study justified the traditional use of this plant; however, clinical validation of efficacy is and animal toxicity studies are also required to ascertain the adverse effects, if any.

Keywords: Validation, Sonchus asper, medicinal values, skin ailments.