Antimicrobial activity of crude leaf extracts from medicinal plants against Enterococcus faecalis

Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram negative, commensal enteric bacterial pathogen usually located in the intestinal tracts of either animals or human beings. The pathogenic members of enteric bacteria’s are usually associated to infections that are characterized by enteric fevers, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea and vomiting. This study aimed at determining the effects of the selected medicinal plants extracts against Clinical isolate of Enterococcus faecalis obtained from Kenyatta University health Centre. Kirby Bauer method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the plants extracts against Enterococcus faecalis. All the plant extracts showed antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis with Tagetes minuta producing the largest average zones of inhibition of 18.67±1.03mm when compared to the other plant extracts. Vernonia lasiopus was more active at low concentrations (MIC 3.9μg/ml; MBC 5.0μg/ml) while Aloe secundiflora was less active (MIC 7.0μg/ml; 9.7μg/ml). Ciprofloxacin (5μg/ml) was used as a positive control producing an average zone of inhibition of 21.67±2.66mm while Methanol (33.50±2.56mm) and 4% Dimethyl sulphoxide (0.00±0.00mm) were used as negative control. Qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of four phytochemicals namely; saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids. The study provides insight about the antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts and if they can be used in treatment of as an antimicrobial agent against infections caused by Enterococcus faecalis.

Keywords: Qualitative phytochemical screening; Antimicro-bial agents; Enterococcus faecalis; Ciprofloxa-cin; Clinical isolate.