Quantitative assessment and antibacterial acitivity of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaves against pathogens isolated from currency notes in circulation

Abstract

Paper currency is commonly contaminated with microbes and this may play a role in the transmission of potentially harmful organisms. So cash should not be handled by children and should be kept away from food and cosmetics. Currency notes represent a universal medium for transmission of bacteria in the environment and among humans. Care should be taken by those handling these currencies to. Hence the present study was planned quantitatively assess of total bacterial load present on the currency notes circulating in the open market area and hospitals in Pattukkottai. A total of 24 frequently circulated currency notes were collected from open Markets and hospitals(12 from each groups).The bacterial isolates were characterized on the basis of their morphology,staining and biochemical tests. Currency notes were contaminated with S. aureus, E.coli, P. aeruginosa. In the hospital group, isolated organisms were S. aureus (58%) and E. Coli(23%) ; in the open market areas, E. Coli (34%) and S. aureus (36%) were found. The study concluded that the notes from hospitals were contaminated more with S. aureus than in open market, whereas E. Coli was present in open market areas hospitals. Antibacterail activity was performed by both Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique and herbal extract of neem. Ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaves(25,50,75,100%)was showed maximum level of Zone of Inhibition against the pathogens isolated from Currency notes at 100% concentration. Gentamycin was showed better than other antibiotics. Compared to antibiotic sensitivity test, ethanolic extract showed better results. Both the isolated microbes treated with UV treatment in that maximum level of inhibition was noticed in 20 minutes.