6. Anti-infective activities of Sookshma Triphala in abdominal sepsis induced by cecal ligation in rats

In spite of large number of antimicrobial agents available, treatment of infections still poses a problem. In Ayurveda, many agents are used for prevention and treatment of infections. Sookshma Triphala is one of such formulation. Efforts were made to evaluate the anti-infective effect of Sookshma Triphala in abdominal sepsis induced by caecal ligation in rats. The objective of the present study is to investigate the efficacy of Sookshma Triphala in abdominal sepsis in rats. 24 Albino wistar rats were divided into four groups of 6 each. All animals received pretreatment for 14 days except one group which received Sookshma Triphala only postoperatively. Sookshma Triphala was given in the dose 100 and 200 mg/kg to different groups. Rats, fasting overnight, were given Phenobarbitone anesthesia and caecal ligation was performed under strict aseptic precautions. Animals were observed postoperatively for mortality over 5 days. Animals survived upto 5th postoperative day were sacrificed and Inspection of abdominal cavity was done. Sepsis was scored. Sookshma Triphala treatment effectively reduced mortality and produced localization of abdominal sepsis in dose dependent manner. Wound healing was better in Sookshma Triphala treated group than control. Sookshma Triphala improved the survival rate and reduced sepsis score, thus it appears to be a promising formulation against infection.