Formulation and Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Herbal Ointments Formulated with Methanolic Extract of Butea frondos

In this study, the antibacterial potency of herbal ointments formulated with methanolic extract of Butea frondosa was evaluated. The preliminary in vitro antibacterial activity of the methanolic extracts of Butea frondosa was determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the Agar cup plate method. The antibacterial activity of the extract was predominantly against Gram-positive organisms. Herbal ointments were prepared by incorporating the methanolic extract of Butea frondosa (5% w/w) into emulsifying ointment and simple ointment bases and evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial efficacy. The formulation containing Butea frondosa extract in aqueous cream showed comparatively better antibacterial activity than the other formulations in the following order: emulsifying ointment > simple ointment. This study shows that Butea frondosa has antibacterial activity and also has high potential as antibacterial agent when formulated as ointment for topical use and could therefore explain the successes claimed in the folk use of the plant in the treatment of microbial infection.