Antimicrobial & Antibiofilm Effects of Alum (Sphatika) & Its Bhasma

In the present in vitro study Antimicrobial potential of Alum as well as its Bhasma- Sphatika Bhasma was evaluated against total 12 organisms viz. 6 Gram Negative 4 Gram Positive and 2 Fungi using various assays such as MIC MBC/MFC and Agar Well Diffusion method. Alum as well as Sphatika Bhasma revealed broad spectrum Antibacterial activities inhibiting gram positive as well as gram negative organisms and moderate antifungal activities. Hence Antibiofilm potential of Alum and Sphatika Bhasma was evaluated against total 10 bacterial biofilms using crystal violet staining method. Antibiofilm effect of Alum was found to be in the order of S. lutea > P. aeruginosa > E. coli > MRSA > S. typhi > B. subtilis > K. pneumoniae > S. flexneri > E. faecalis > P. vulgaris whereas Antibiofilm activity of Sphatika Bhasma was noted in the order of P. aeruginosa > S. lutea > E. coli > K. pneumoniae > S. typhi > P. vulgaris > S. flexneri > MRSA > B. subtilis > E. faecalis. Antimicrobial Antibiofilm and Antioxidant effects of Alum and Sphatika Bhasma could be attributed to their Phenolic and Flavonoid contents as well as presence of elements such as Al Ca Cu Fe K Mg Na and Zn.