Life sciences · Journal article

IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF AN AQUA-ALCOHOLIC POLYHERBAL FORMULATION OF CAMELLIA SINENSIS AND OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM AGAINST WOUND PATHOGENS

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research · August 7, 2026

Preliminary Why this matters to you Expert discussion

Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.

AI Summary

This is an in vitro study evaluating an aqua-alcoholic polyherbal extract of Camellia sinensis and Ocimum gratissimum for antimicrobial activity against three wound pathogens and anti-inflammatory activity using laboratory assays. The extract showed inhibition zones and anti-inflammatory inhibitory percentages comparable to or exceeding standard controls in test-tube conditions, but the findings are purely mechanistic and do not yet demonstrate efficacy in living systems.

What was studied

In vitro experimental study. No human or animal subjects. In vitro assays against three bacterial wound pathogens: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., and Staphylococcus aureus.. Intervention: Aqua-alcoholic polyherbal extract of Camellia sinensis and Ocimum gratissimum at concentrations 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL (antimicrobial assay) and 10–50 μg/mL (anti-inflammatory assay).. Compared with: Gentamicin 20 μg/mL (antimicrobial positive control); diclofenac sodium (anti-inflammatory positive control); aqua-alcoholic solvent alone (negative control)..

Key findings

At 100 μg/mL, herbal extract produced inhibition zones of 19 mm (E. coli), 16 mm (Pseudomonas sp.), and 20 mm (S. aureus) by agar well diffusion. Gentamicin standard at 20 μg/mL produced zones of 18 mm (E. coli), 10 mm (Pseudomonas sp.), and 12 mm (S. aureus). Anti-inflammatory activity showed inhibitory percentage of 45–81% across concentrations 10–50 μg/mL, compared to diclofenac sodium standard of 47–84%.

Safety

No pharmacokinetic or bioavailability data; active compounds in the extract not identified.

Who this may help

This in vitro finding does not yet support clinical use. The herbal formulation would require animal wound-healing studies and human clinical trials before application in wound care could be recommended.

Plain-language summary

In vitro study of herbal extract antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity using surrogate assays; no animal or clinical data; results are mechanistic and exploratory, requiring in vivo validation before clinical relevance can be established.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsHerbal formulation prepared as aqua-alcoholic extract. Anti-inflammatory activity evaluated using bovine serum albumin denaturation assay and egg albumin denaturation assay. Antimicrobial efficacy determined by agar well diffusion at extract concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL, with gentamicin (20 μg/mL) as positive control and aqua-alcoholic solvent as negative control. Statistical analysis performed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test; significance set at p<0.05.

DesignIn vitro experimental study

PopulationNo human or animal subjects. In vitro assays against three bacterial wound pathogens: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., and Staphylococcus aureus.

InterventionAqua-alcoholic polyherbal extract of Camellia sinensis and Ocimum gratissimum at concentrations 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL (antimicrobial assay) and 10–50 μg/mL (anti-inflammatory assay).

ComparatorGentamicin 20 μg/mL (antimicrobial positive control); diclofenac sodium (anti-inflammatory positive control); aqua-alcoholic solvent alone (negative control).

Reported figures

Quoted from the source exactly as published.

Inhibition zone, E. coli, 100 μg/mL extract19 mm

Inhibition zone, Pseudomonas sp., 100 μg/mL extract16 mm

Inhibition zone, S. aureus, 100 μg/mL extract20 mm

Inhibition zone, E. coli, 20 μg/mL gentamicin18 mm

Inhibition zone, Pseudomonas sp., 20 μg/mL gentamicin10 mm

Inhibition zone, S. aureus, 20 μg/mL gentamicin12 mm

Anti-inflammatory inhibitory percentage range45–81%

Diclofenac sodium standard inhibitory percentage range47–84%

Clinical bottom line

Caveats

No animal or clinical data; in vitro findings do not predict in vivo efficacy.
No pharmacokinetic or bioavailability data; active compounds in the extract not identified.
Statistical analysis method (two-way ANOVA, Tukey's test) described but individual comparisons, confidence intervals, and detailed p-values not reported.
Study does not report number of replicates per assay, inter-assay variability, or whether findings are from single experiments.

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

limited

In vitro assays only; no animal model or clinical component reported.

Directness

limited

Surrogate endpoints (agar diffusion, albumin denaturation) do not directly measure clinical wound healing.

Consistency

insufficient

Single study; no comparison with existing herbal formulation literature.

Risk of bias

insufficient

No description of blinding, randomization, or potential sources of bias in assay conduct.

Sample adequacy

insufficient

No sample size justification or replication details provided for in vitro assays.

Source abstract

Objectives: Camellia sinensis has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic properties and lowering the cholesterol. C. sinensis produces black, green, and oolong types of tea. Ocimum gratissimum is used as a spice and to treat various diseases, such as stomatitis, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, bronchitis, and inflammation. To analyse the anti-inflammatory activity and antimicrobial activity of aqua-alcoholic extract of C. sinensis and O. gratissimum (herbal formulation) against wound pathogens. Methods: To prepare the herbal formulation of aqua-alcoholic extract and its evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity was utilized the bovine serum albumin denaturation assay and egg albumin denaturation assay. To determine the efficacy of antimicrobial activity against wound pathogens was utilized agar well diffusion. To examine the statistical analysis for utilizing the two-way analysis of variance analysis in Tukey’s test. Results: The outcomes of the aqua-alcoholic extract in antimicrobial activity utilizing the agar well diffusion technique at various concentrations as 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL. The higher concentration as 100 μg/mL showed as 19, 16, and 20 mm in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., and Staphylococcus aureus. In 20 μg/mL of standard (gentamicin) as 18, 10, and 12 mm, and the control (aqua-alcohoic solvent) as 9, 9, and 10 mm. Anti-inflammatory activity revealed the inhibitory percentage as various concentrations (10–50 μg/mL) at 45–81% and the standard as diclofenac sodium in 47–84%. Statistical analysis details, specifying that all values are expressed as mean±standard deviation, with significance set at p<0.05. Conclusion: In herbal formulation of aqua-alcoholic extract was showed the excellent antimicrobial activity against wound infectious pathogens against wound infectious pathogens and their anti-inflammatory property also. The extract controls wound pathogens and reduces inflammation; it will be utilized for wound healing activity in animal models and clinical trials.

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RAJESHKUMAR SHANMUGAMSulochana GovindharajYUVARAJ MNANDHINI S