Antibacterial Activity of Vitellaria paradoxa on some Enteric Bacteria

Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activity of vitellaria paradoxa crude extract on two enteric organisms namely; Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexneri. The clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexneri were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using agar diffusion technique. Methanolic and aqueous crude extract produced clear zones of inhibition at concentration ranging from 50 to 200mg/ml. The Minimium inhibitory concentrations were between 60 and 120mg/ml and the minimium bacteriocidal concentrations were between 80 and 140mg/ml. Two thousand milligram per kilogram body weight of the crude extracts was administered to the mice orally, only one died. In vivo antimicrobial assay revealed that the mice treated with the crude methanolic and aqueous extracts after being infected with the test organisms, survived and showed no pathological effects. Similarly, untreated mice (control) died after 48hours of inoculation with Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexneri. Phytochemistry of the Vitellaria paradoxa, crude extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and cardiac glycosides, Vitellaria paradoxa crude extracts could be a potential source for the treatment of disease associated with Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexneri. Further studies should be directed towards isolation and characterization of the active compound in the crude extracts.