A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA WITH GENTAMICIN, CIPROFLOXACIN AND CEFOTAXIME AGAINST ESCHERICHIA COLI

ABSTRACT
Background: Bacteria are the common cause of multiple infections and due to repeated use of certain antibiotics the
growing resistance has become the major problem. Infections caused by Escherichia coli can be treated by using
ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and gentamicin but excessive use of these antibiotics can lead to resistance against them.
Thus new drugs that can effectively kill bacteria are constantly required to overcome this problem. Withania somnifera
is a medicinal plant found in dry areas of India, Pakistan, China and Bangladesh. It has several medical uses. Research
is needed to evaluate the ability of Withania somnifera extracts to kill bacteria and its role in minimizing development
of resistance.