Antibacterial Effect of Extracts of <i>Acalypha Wilkesiana</i> on Gastrointestinal Tract Pathogens and Bacteria Causing Skin Infection in Neonates

Abstract

In-vitro antibacterial effects of aqueous, ethanolic, methanolic, and petroleum ether extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaf on some gastrointestinal tract pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae) and bacteria causing skin infection in neonates (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Klebsiella aerogenes) were investigated. The phytochemical components present in the leaf were also assessed. 

The antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts were determined using agar diffusion and broth dilution techniques respectively. The aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts inhibited the growth of the test bacteria in varying degrees while the petroleum ether extract did not show any inhibitory effect on all the test bacteria. The observed antibacterial effects of the A. wilkesiana extracts was in direct proportion to the concentration of the extracts used. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts ranged from 10-30μg/ml. The antibacterial activity of the various extracts of the leaf was comparable to the reference antibiotics, though the antibiotics showed better inhibitory property (p<0.05) in some cases on the test isolates than the leaf extracts The study showed that A. wilkesiana leaf possessed inhibitory properties, thus justifies the folklore uses of the leaf for the treatment of gastroenteritis and skin infections in neonates.

Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Acalypha wilkesiana, skin infections, neonates, pathogens