<i>In vitro</i> evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of root extracts <i>Ofanacardium occidentale</i> linn. Against urogenital clinical pathogens

Abstract

Recently, there is a growing awareness of the role of plant-derived natural products in modern medicine. This study brought forth the case of anti-microbial properties of root extracts of Anacadiumoccidentale Linn (Cashew) against urogenital clinical pathogens. The clinical pathogens (Candidaalbicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) were isolated from body fluid (High Vaginal Swab, (HVS), urine, semen EndoCervical Swab (ECS), Urethral Swab, US, and blood) of patients attending outpatient clinic of Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka. Protocols for ethical clearance were duly observed, and first person informed consent was obtained from each patient before collection of the body fluid. The A. occidentale roots were washed, room-dried and pulverized with laboratory hammer mill to a fine texture/size of 60 micron size. Aqueous extracts of the plant was obtained by hot water maceration for 24 h, and strained with clean muslin clothes. Methanol or n-hexane extracts were obtained by soxhlet extraction technique following standard procedures. The extracts were concentrated using rotary evaporator under vacuum. Antimicrobial properties of the extracts against the clinical isolates were investigated using the agar well dilution technique. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of each extract against the clinical isolates was determined using agar dilution technique. Results of phytochemical screening showed that the extracts contained alkaloids, glycosides, resins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The mean of the methanol extracts of A. occidentaleoil against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 13.3 μg/ml, 13.5 μg/ml, 9.8 μg/ml respectively. The urogenital clinical pathogens were sensitive to the effects of methanol extracts of A. occidentale root. The results justify the folkloric ethno-medicinal uses of the plants in the treatment of tropical diseases. This could be attributed to the presence of natural products seen in the phytochemical screening.

Keywords: antimicrobial, Anacardium occidentale, urogenital, clinical isolates, MIC