Antibacterial activity of <i>Urena lobata</i> against uropathogens

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common form of bacterial infections but the treatment becomes cumbersome as the etiological bacteria are developing resistance against antibiotics. This present study evaluated the efficacy of antimicrobial   activity of Urena lobata against uropathogens. Six urine samples from UTI patients were collected from Pathological Laboratory, G.B. Vaghani Multispecialty Hospital, Surat. Bacteria were isolated from these samples using Nutrient agar, Mac Conkey agar plate, Blood agar, Mannitol salt agar, Eosin Methylene Blue agar and King’s agar. The bacterial isolates were identified using cultural  characteristics, microscopic features and biochemical characteristics. Leaf extract of Urena lobata was prepared using Soxhlet Extraction Method whereby methanol and distilled water were the extractants used. Herbal extract disc was prepared at  concentrations of 50,75, and100 mg/ml and tested against all the isolates. DMSO and antibiotics (Nitrofurantion, Amikacin, Levofloxacin, Norofloxacin, Ofloxacin and Cephalosporins) were used as negative and positive controls respectively.Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella spp. and Brevibacillus panacihumi were isolated from the urine samples. All concentrations of aqueous and methanolic extracts of U. lobata leaf displayed highest zone of inhibition against B. cereus. No inhibitory effect was observed against the growth of Klebsiella except at the highest concentrations. Further study is encouraged on the in-vivo study of efficacy of U. lobata on etiological agent of UTI.