In vitro Action of Vernonia perrottetii Plant Extracts on Staphylococcus species Associated with Vulvovaginitis of Selected Pregnant Women in Lokoja, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to test for the in vitro action of Vernonia perrottetii extracts against Staphylococcus species isolated from women with Vulvovaginitis using medically certified standard procedures. A total of 50 samples of intravaginal swab (ICS) samples were collected from consented pregnant women in a State Specialist Hospital in Nigeria and investigated for the presence of Staphylococcus species and effect of V. perrottetii extracts on the isolates. The phytochemical screening of the methanolic and aqueous extract shows that the plant contain secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins with absence of phenol and anthraquinone. Isolate S. aureus (c) and Staphylococcus species(c) were resistant to amoxillin which served as control while other isolates were susceptible to the plant extracts. At a concentration of 1000mg/ml, aqueous extract of the plant exhibited appreciable sensitivity with a zone of inhibition of 26.7mm and 20.7mm at 500mg/ml and 1000mg/ml for S. xylosus. The results of the study imply that extracts of Vernonia perrottetii is a potential biocontrol agents of Staphyloccoci infection.