Investigation of the Antimicrobial Activities of Three Medicinal Plants on the Genus Shigella And Salmonella Causing Diarrhoea in Children
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Date
2005-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Diarrhoea, particularly infectious diarrhoea in children less than 5 yrs of age is labeled as the
second leading cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. This is especially true
in developing countries like Ethiopia where there is poor sanitation and overcrowding.
Among the leading causes of infectious diarrhoea, Salmonella and Shigella contributes a lot.
Currently the chemotherapeutical treatment of salmonellosis and shigellosis is complicated as
a result of drug resistance. Moreover, since the majority of the people who lives in these
developing countries have no access for modern treatment, it has made them to look for other
alternative therapies such as, the use of medicinal plants. Ethiopia is one of the well known
countries of the world where medicinal plants are used widely. The major objective of this
study is to evaluate the antibacterial activity of three medicinal plants (Gardinea lutea, Olea
europaea subsp. cuspidata, Myrica salisfolia) against clinical isolates of Shigella and
Salmonella and a control strain E. coli ATCC (25922).
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the three medicinal plant extracts including
their semi purified fractions, and modern antibiotics were determined, using the standard agar
dilution method (NCCLS). Those fractionated extracts which have shown weak to high
antimicrobial activity and the three antibiotics, (Chloramphinicol, Tetracycline and
Norfloxacin) have been tested in three replicates.
From the three plants of both the crude and semi purified fractionate of Olea europaea subsp.
cuspidata has shown weak activity against both Shigella and Salmonella. The MIC of Olea
europaea subsp. cuspidata is > 2000μg/ml for both clinical isolates. The other two plants (Gardinea lutea and Myrica salicfolia) have shown relatively better MIC value, particularly
against the clinical isolates of Shigella and Salmonella species. The range of MIC, where
antishigella activity was recorded for both the crude and butanol fraction of Gardinea lutea
was between 2000μg/ml - 250μg/ml and the range of MIC for both the crude and fractionated
extracts Myrica salisfolia is greater than or equal 1000μg/ml for both clinical isolates of
Shigella and Salmonella. As compared to the result of modern antibiotics, it can be suggested
that, the plant extracts have shown weak activity with low MIC values. Among the
antibiotics, tetracycline, has shown MIC value of >200 μg/ml, for both Salmonella and
Shigella. While chloramphinicol has shown MIC value of <600μg/ml for Salmonella isolates
and >150μg/ml for Shigella isolates. The least MIC value was obtained for norfloxacin with
MIC value of > 0.43μg/ml with 100% growth inhibition for Shigella and Salmonella. Further
investigations (purifications) could enhance, especially for the antimicrobial activity of the
semi purified butanol fractionates of Gardinea lutea and Myrica salisfolia which have shown
relatively the best activity against the clinical isolates of Salmonella and Shigella.
Key words: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Gardinea lutea
Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata , Myrica salisfolia
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Keywords
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Gardinea lutea Olea europaea subsp, cuspidata, Myrica salisfolia