Phytochemical and Antibacterial Activity of Aspilia africana Extract on Bacterial Isolates from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection in Yenagoa Metropolis

Abstract

The phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Aspilia africana
extracted via ethanol, petroleum ether, acetone and aqueous solvents
were investigated in this study. Fifty urine specimens were obtained
from patients diagnosed with urinary tract infection and were studied
by culture, gram staining and biochemical analysis. Susceptibility
testing and the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of Aspilia
africana extracts were ascertained with the agar dilution method.
Data obtained were analysed with the analysis of variance (ANOVA)
statistical test. Thirty-nine of the isolates were identified as
Escherichia coli 14(35.9%), Staphylococcus aureus 19(48.7%),
Klebsiella spp. 3(7.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3(7.7%). The
distribution of bacteria by sex recorded female with highest
occurrence of 12(30.8%) while male with the least 1(2.6%). The
distribution of bacterial isolates by sex showed significant difference
(P < 0.05). The age interval of 24-29 years had the highest occurrence
11(28.2%) while 36-41 years had the least with 6(15.4%). The
distribution of bacterial isolates by age were significantly different (P
< 0.05). Qualitative phytochemical analysis identified the presence of
flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins and carbohydrate in the
investigated plant. Quantitative phytochemical evaluation of plant
extracts revealed phenols (0.643±0.006), tannins (0.222±0.008),
anthocyanin (1.27±0.03), flavonols (17.52±2.11) and flavonoids
(20.42±1.45). The ethanol extracts of Aspilia africana showed
significant inhibitory action (p<0.05) against the bacterial isolates at
250 mg/ml. The highest mean diameter zone of inhibition for all the
extracts was 15 mm at 250 mg/ml for E. coli while the least 0.7 mm at
31.25 mg/ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The MIC of all extracts
against the isolates were observed at 31.25 mg/ml. Therefore, results
obtained reveal that Aspilia africana holds potentials for novel drugs
development for treatments of bacterial infections.