Screening of anti-microbial, anti-biofilm activity, and cytotoxicity analysis of a designed polyherbal formulation against shigellosis.

Background: Shigellosis is an infectious intestinal disease common in rural communities. In developing countries, shigellosis is caused predominantly by Shigella flexneri and has been determined as a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The study investigates the anti-biofilm, anti-microbial, and anti-shigellosis activity of a designed formulation.

Materials And Methods: The potential of the formulation against S. flexneri (MTCC 1457) was investigated using a well-diffusion assay. Further, the effect of the designed formulation on bacterial growth and biofilm formation was analyzed by the spectrophotometry method. Anti-quorum sensing activity was analyzed using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026, a bacterial strain. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the formulation was examined by using cell line and brine shrimp lethality assay.

Results: The MIC value of the aqueous extract of the formulation was 2.4 mg ml and an inhibitory zone of 23 mm was observed. On the other side, the formulation significantly inhibited the bacterial growth, biofilm formation (23.78%), violacein inhibition (27.68%) at 0.6 mg ml concentration (did not significantly affect the growth curves) and was found non-toxic in cell assay and brine shrimp lethality assay.

Conclusion: According to the result obtained, the designed formulation was found effective and non-toxic, so it can be used to treat shigellosis and Shigella-related infections.