Antimicrobial Activity of Moringa oleifera, Aloe vera and Warbugia ugandensis on Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

Muhuha Aw,Kangethe Sk ,Kirira Pg

doi:10.4172/2472-1212.1000168

Abstract

Multi-drug resistant is a global public health concern. There has been an increase in infections caused by multidrug resistant micro-organisms in Sub Saharan Africa. This has led to extended illness, expensive health care and deaths. This experimental study was aimed to determine the anti-microbial activity of aqueous and methanol leaf extracts of Warbugia ugandensis, Moringa oleifera and Aloe vera on standard bacteria and multi-drug resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Tetracycline drug was used as the reference drug. The bacteria were treated with extracts at different concentrations to determine the zones of inhibition through Agar Diffusion Assay, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration assays. Raw data was analyzed using one-way and two-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Zones of inhibition ranged from 6.5 mm to 9.98 mm on the multi-drug resistant isolates, while those of the standard bacteria ranged from 6.5 mm to 12.00 mm. Methanol extracts of W. ugandensis, M. oleifera and A. vera at the concentration of 400 mg/ml had higher zones of inhibition against multi-drug resistant S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts indicated a concentration-dependent response. The minimum bactericidal concentration values obtained were double the minimum inhibitory concentration values. Methanol extracts recorded lower minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations compared to aqueous extracts. Phytochemicals which were present, included alkaloids, cardenolide glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, saponins and anthracin glycosides. These phytochemicals are associated with antimicrobial activities. This study showed potent antimicrobial activities of methanol and aqueous extracts of W. ugandensis, M. oleifera and A. vera against the multi-drug resistant and standard bacteria tested. The extracts, therefore, may be used to develop alternative therapeutics in the management of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

Highlights

Antibiotic resistance is defined as the inability of a drug or drugs to kill a microbe that was previously used to inhibit or kill the same microbe [1]
The antibacterial activity of reference drug was significantly higher compared to methanol extracts of W. ugandensis, M. oleifera and A. vera against the standard and multi-drug resistant bacteria tested (p
The antibacterial activity of methanol extract of M. oleifera at the concentration of 400 mg/ml was significantly higher against standard S. aureus (p

Summary

Introduction

Antibiotic resistance is defined as the inability of a drug or drugs to kill a microbe that was previously used to inhibit or kill the same microbe [1]. In absence of potent antibiotics, many standard medical treatments will become ineffective against multi-drug resistant microbes [3]. This calls for the immediate global united move, otherwise, the world will head towards an era where antibiotics no longer function. Multi-drug resistant microorganisms cause infections which are complicated and difficult to treat, examples of such microorganisms include Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. These microbes may be community or hospital acquired [4]. There are four general mechanisms that S. aureus use to withstand antimicrobial agents These include drug target modification, drug uptake limitation, active efflux of the drug and inactivation of the drug [6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion