Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Selected Edible Herbs Against Genital Mycoplasmas Among University Students in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

<i>The prevalence rates of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma Spp</i> and the evaluation of edible herbs against genital mycoplasmas were determined among university students in Enugu state, Nigeria. Specimens from 2400 subjects comprising of 1200 male and female subjects were tested for <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> and <i>Ureaplasma Spp</i>. Cultures were done on Mycoplasma agar, A7agar and urea-arginine LYO2 broth. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was determined by Mycoplasma IST2 kit. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis was done using standard methods to reveal the presence of basic phytochemicals. Rizomes of <i>Curcuma longa</i>, garlic and ginger, cloves and seeds of <i>Garcina kola</i> were extracted with water, methanol and ethanol sequentially and reconstituted with dimethyl -sulfoxide to concentrations (mg/ml) of 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125 and 1.56. Mycoplasma isolates were screened for sensitivity to the extracts using agar well diffusion and broth diffusion methods. <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> occurred more in women at (81.6%) while <i>Ureaplasma Spp</i> occurred more in men at (88%). <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> (98%) and <i>Ureaplasma Spp</i> (91.6%) showed high sensitivityto ciprofloxacin. The test plants all showed presence of alkaloids, tannis, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phenols and cardiac glycosides. At 200mg/ml <i>Garcina kola</i> and <i>Curcurma longa</i> showed higher zones of inhibition at 35mm on <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> and <i>ureaplasma Spp</i>. Syngestic activities of ethanolic extracts of Curcuma longa and garlic showed high zones of inhibition at 45mm on <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> while at 200mg/ml <i>Garcina kola</i> and cloves showed zones of inhibition at 45mm on <i>ureaplasma spp</i>. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results of the syngestic plants were 1.56mg/ml on all the isolates. The Results from the study showed that there is high prevalence of <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> in women while <i>Ureaplasma Spp</i> while <i>Ureaplasma Spp</i> occurred more in men in the study area. The synergistic activities of selected edible plants showed higher efficacy on resistant isolates and suggest its use in the treatment of genital Mycoplasmas.