Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Padigalinga chendooram

Siddha system of medicine is a traditional system of Medicine with a pharmacopeia base of natural resources -herbs, minerals, metallic salts, and animal products. Herbo -mineral compounds offer advantages over plant drugs by virtue of their long shelf life, lower dosage, easy storability, and sustained availability as it contains minerals and metals as an integral part of the formulations. Siddha system emphasizes the etiology and management of various diseases affecting mankind. Kirahaninoi (chronic diarrhea) caused by Kurumi (microbes) is one among them. Padigalinga chenduram, a herbo-mineral Siddha medicine mentioned in our Siddha literature, is indicated for Seetha bedhi (mucus diarrhea), Raththa bedhi (dysenteric diarrhea), Kazhichal suram (fever accompanying diarrhea) specifically. Padigalinga Chenduram was investigated for antibacterial potential against enteric pathogens like Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi by Agar well diffusion method. The study implies that the herbs mineral compound may be useful as an alternative in the treatment of enteric pathogens and wound healing.