Abstract:
The acute respiratory tract infections are the most common illness in humans, with a high global burden. The present study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of aqueous, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of Cardiospermum halicacabum Trim (Family: Sapindaceae, Common name: Wel penela) against respiratory tract pathogens and to assess acute oral toxic effects of the above extracts in healthy Wistar rats. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against a Gram-positive organism; Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Gram-negative organisms; Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The agar disc diffusion method was performed to estimate the antimicrobial activity according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocols and the diameter of inhibition zones were measured.