CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW1.1 INTRODUCTION
Medicinal plants represent a rich source of antimicrobials and many other drugs. The potentialsofhigher plants as source for new drugs is still largely unexplored. Antibiotic resistance has become aglobal concern (Westhet al., 2004). The clinical efficacy of many existing antibiotics is beingthreatened by the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens (Bandow, 2003). Manyinfectiousdiseases have been known to be treated with herbal remedies throughout the history ofmankind. Natural products, either as pure compounds or as standardized plant extracts, provideunlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of the unmatched availability ofchemical diversity.There is a continuous and urgent need to discover new antimicrobial compounds with diversechemicalstructures and novel mechanisms of action for new and re-emerging infectious diseases (Rojas et al.,1992). Therefore, researchers are increasingly turning their attention tolocal herbs, looking for newleads todevelop better drugs against microbial infections (Benkeblia, 2004).The increasingfailure of chemotherapeutics and antibiotic resistanceexhibited by pathogenic microbialinfectious agents has led to the screening of several medicinal plants for their potential antimicrobialactivity (Kapila, 2005 ;Runyoro et al.,2006). The rising prevalence of antibiotics resistant pathogenicmicroorganisms raises the demand for finding new alternative antimicrobial agents. The drugs alreadyin use to treat infectious diseaseare of concern because drug safety remains an enormous global issue.Most of the synthetic drugscause side effects and also most of the microbesdeveloped resistant againstthe synthetic drugs (Chanda and Rakholiya 2011). To alleviate this problem, antimicrobial compoundsfrompotential plants should be explored. These drugs fromplants are less toxic; side effects are scantyand alsocost effective. They are effective in the treatment ofinfectious diseases while2simultaneouslymitigatingmany of the side effects that are often associated withsynthetic antimicrobials(Harishchandraet al., 2012).Published studies in medical journals show that coconut in one form or another may provide a widerange of health benefits. The coconut plant Cocos nucifera (family Arecaceae) is considered as animportant fruit crop in tropical countries. It is commonly available plant with wide variety ofapplications in food, drinks, fibers, building materials and various chemicals finding their way into ahuge range of modern day products. Being highly nutritious coconuts have also been studied formedicinal qualities.Modern medical science is now confirming the medicinal qualities of Cocos nucifera which are usedfor the treatment wide range of infections. Based on the knowledge of the traditional herbs used for thetreatment for local application, coconut husk can be use as a topical antimicrobial. As preliminaryinvestigation of the use of coconut husk, the antimicrobial activity can be evaluated.1.2
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives are to:
(a) Evaluate the phytochemical and antimicrobial activities of Methalonic extract of young Cocosnucifera husk on selected pathogenic microorganisms.
(b) Evaluate the antimicrobial activities andyoung Cocos nucifera water on selected pathogenicmicroorganisms
1.3 JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH
Cocos nucifera husk and Cocos nucifera water are traditionally used in the treatment of wide variety ofdiseases, it has been used from time immemorial for the treatment of carcinogenic infections. Thisstudy scientifically justifies the use of young Coconut husk and young Coconut water in traditional folkmedicine and to compare their antimicrobial potency with the commercial antibiotics.