Antibacterial effect of Ocimum gratissimum against bacteria from paediatric diarrhoeal stool samples in the tropics

Abstract

The upsurge in the prevalence of side effects of many synthetic antimicrobial agents and incidence of multidrug resistant bacteria has spurred scientists on the research for plant based antimicrobial of therapeutic potentials. Ocimum gratissimum presents such potential of high medicinal value. This plant is used in Nigeria traditionally as condiments and for the treatment of various ailments such as pyorrhea, dysentery and bronchitis. Aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of O. gratissimum was screened for antibacterial activity against bacteria recovered from paediatric diarrhoea stool samples. Both extracts were found to exhibit selective inhibition against the isolates. The diameter zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts were between 2.50±0.50mm – 26.00±1.00mm. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts had minimum inhibitory concentrations that ranged between 15 and 25mg/ml, the extracts were bacteriostatic. Ethanolic extract showed more inhibitory effects compared to the aqueous extracts. The phytochemical analysis of both extracts revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins and glycosides, volatile oils, proteins and amino acids and terpernoids. In view of the efficacy of these extracts in inhibiting the growth of diarrhoea- causing organisms in paediatric stool samples, the utilization of the extracts in the formulation of new antibacterial drugs for the treatment of gastroenteritis caused by these organisms is strongly recommended especially when the availability and low cost of this medicinal plant are put into strong consideration.

Keywords: Ocimum, diarrhoea, paediatric, stool, antibacterial