Thesis Abstract

Thesis Overview

<p> 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW<br>1.1 INTRODUCTION<br>Medicinal plants represent a rich source of antimicrobials and many other drugs. The potentialsof<br>higher plants as source for new drugs is still largely unexplored. Antibiotic resistance has become a<br>global concern (Westhet al., 2004). The clinical efficacy of many existing antibiotics is being<br>threatened by the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens (Bandow, 2003). Many<br>infectiousdiseases have been known to be treated with herbal remedies throughout the history of<br>mankind. Natural products, either as pure compounds or as standardized plant extracts, provide<br>unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of the unmatched availability ofchemical diversity.<br>There is a continuous and urgent need to discover new antimicrobial compounds with diversechemical<br>structures and novel mechanisms of action for new and re-emerging infectious diseases (Rojas et al.,<br>1992). Therefore, researchers are increasingly turning their attention tolocal herbs, looking for new<br>leads todevelop better drugs against microbial infections (Benkeblia, 2004).<br>The increasingfailure of chemotherapeutics and antibiotic resistanceexhibited by pathogenic microbial<br>infectious agents has led to the screening of several medicinal plants for their potential antimicrobial<br>activity (Kapila, 2005 ;Runyoro et al.,2006). The rising prevalence of antibiotics resistant pathogenic<br>microorganisms raises the demand for finding new alternative antimicrobial agents. The drugs already<br>in use to treat infectious diseaseare of concern because drug safety remains an enormous global issue.<br>Most of the synthetic drugscause side effects and also most of the microbesdeveloped resistant against<br>the synthetic drugs (Chanda and Rakholiya 2011). To alleviate this problem, antimicrobial compounds<br>frompotential plants should be explored. These drugs fromplants are less toxic; side effects are scanty<br>and alsocost effective. They are effective in the treatment ofinfectious diseases while<br>2<br>simultaneouslymitigatingmany of the side effects that are often associated withsynthetic antimicrobials<br>(Harishchandraet al., 2012).<br>Published studies in medical journals show that coconut in one form or another may provide a wide<br>range of health benefits. The coconut plant Cocos nucifera (family Arecaceae) is considered as an<br>important fruit crop in tropical countries. It is commonly available plant with wide variety of<br>applications in food, drinks, fibers, building materials and various chemicals finding their way into a<br>huge range of modern day products. Being highly nutritious coconuts have also been studied for<br>medicinal qualities.<br>Modern medical science is now confirming the medicinal qualities of Cocos nucifera which are used<br>for the treatment wide range of infections. Based on the knowledge of the traditional herbs used for the<br>treatment for local application, coconut husk can be use as a topical antimicrobial. As preliminary<br>investigation of the use of coconut husk, the antimicrobial activity can be evaluated.<br>1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVES<br>The specific objectives are to:<br>(a) Evaluate the phytochemical and antimicrobial activities of Methalonic extract of young Cocos<br>nucifera husk on selected pathogenic microorganisms.<br>(b) Evaluate the antimicrobial activities andyoung Cocos nucifera water on selected pathogenic<br>microorganisms<br>1.3 JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH<br>Cocos nucifera husk and Cocos nucifera water are traditionally used in the treatment of wide variety of<br>diseases, it has been used from time immemorial for the treatment of carcinogenic infections. This<br>study scientifically justifies the use of young Coconut husk and young Coconut water in traditional folk<br>medicine and to compare their antimicrobial potency with the commercial antibiotics. <br></p>