Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Tanzanian Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) Leaf Extract against Multi-Drug Resistance Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate in-vitro antibacterial activities of methanolic leaf extract of Physalis peruviana growing in Dodoma, Tanzania, against multidrug-resistant bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi) using agar well diffusion and standard microdilution methods. Moreover, leaf extract was screened qualitatively for the presence of phytoconstituents using standard methods. Methanolicleaf extract of P. peruviana (from 0.2 mg/mL to 0.4 mg/mL concentrations) showed antibacterial activity against tested E. coli and S. typhi with zones of inhibition ranging from 19 to 21 mm and 17.7 to 22 mm, respectively. The micro-dilution method revealed the minimum inhibitory concentration of methanolic leaf extract of P. peruviana to be 10 µg/µL and 5 µg/µL for E. coli and S. typhi, respectively. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of methanolic leaf extract of P. peruviana identified the presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, and phenols. Methanolic leaf extract of P. peruviana has antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria (E. coli and S. typhi). This plant may be a promising new source of future antibiotics that potentially combat the existing problem of antimicrobial resistance.