Synergistic activity of Tetrapleura tetraptera and Abrus precatorius fractions extract against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> and <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumonia and Mycobacterium tuberculosis and both account for high morbidity and mortality globally. This study is aimed to determine the antimicrobial and synergistic activity of Tetrapleura tetraptera and Abrus precatorius against these two respiratory infections. The leaves of T. tetraptera and A. precatorius were extracted using 70% methanol and further fractionations of the further fractionation. The crude and fractions were screened for antimicrobial activity on Streptococcus pneumonia and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using micro-dilution technique. The synergistic activity of fractions of T. tetraptera and A. precatorius was analyzed using standard checkerboard. The phytochemical composition of the fractions was analyzed using standard technique. The crude extracts of T. tetraptera and A. precatorius had activity against S. pneumoniae and M. tuberculosis at varied concentrations of 0.7 to 6.9 mg/l. The fractions alone of T. tetraptera and A. precatorius had activity at lower concentrations ranging 0.03 to 0.98 mg/ml against test bacteria. The combined fractions T. tetraptera and A. precatorius against S. pneumoniae and M. tuberculosis provided better activity at concentrations of 0.01 to 0.33 mg/ml to give synergy and indifference activity. The phytochemicals identified in A. precatorius and T. tetraptera included tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenols and resins but differ in alkaloids detected in only T. tetraptera. This study has shown that A. precatorius and T. tetraptera possess antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumonia and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The combined fractions of T. tetraptera and A. precatorius showed greater antimicrobial activity than when each plant is used individually. The synergistic effect of these fractions of T. tetraptera and A. precatorius can be used in the development of phyto-medicine that will be efficacious, increase cure rate and decrease resistance in S. pneumoniae and M. tuberculosis.