Researchers evaluate the efficiency of natural plant products for disinfecting surfaces By Evangelyn Rodriguez for Prevention
In this study, researchers from India evaluated the efficiency of traditional fumigation practice using natural plant products to disinfect the air and surfaces. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.
- Environmental disinfection is an excellent method for reducing nosocomial or healthcare associated infections (HCAIs).
- HCAIs are major healthcare problems worldwide.
- In India, traditional Ayurvedic fumigation practices, which involve the use of plant products, are commonly used for environmental disinfection.
- For their experiment, the researchers used natural products like garlic (Allium sativum) peel, turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder, carom (Trachyspermum ammi) seeds and loban, the resin from gum benjamin tree (Styrax benzoin) and Boswellia species.
- They conducted active air sampling to evaluate the effect of these natural products on air quality.
- To examine the ability of garlic peel to disinfect surfaces, they used it on a glass slide contaminated with three strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- They then analyzed the slide for surviving bacteria and subjected it to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.
- The researchers reported that, individually, three grams of garlic peel, turmeric, carom seeds and loban powder effectively reduced the average airborne bacterial colony forming units (cfu)/m3.
- SEM analysis also revealed that garlic peel reduced the number of viable bacteria on the contaminated glass surface.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that traditional Ayurvedic fumigation with natural plant products is an effective method for reducing airborne bacteria and disinfecting surfaces. This can be used to address the problem of nosocomial infections.
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