Psuedocedreal Kotschyi\'s (Emi gbegiri, Schweinf) Antimicriobia Activities in Comparative Studies with Ciproxin on Microbes Cultured from Human Conjuctivitis

Abstract

Introduction: Pseudocedrela kotschyi (P.K) popularly known to the traditional healer as emi gbegiri in Yoruba land is a savanna vegetation and is acclaimed to have many bioactive properties including antimicrobial properties. A comparative study is hereby reported, evaluating the inhinitory effects on common infecting micro-organisms of the human conjunctive with those of ciproxin, a broadspectrum antibiotic.
Materials and Methods: Conjunctival swabs of purulent discharges from patients in the eye clinic of the Guinness Eye Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (GEC/LUTH) were sent to the Microbiology Laboratory of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Patients were treated with orthodox antibiotics as specified in the sensitivity results. The isolates were also subjected to the inhibitory effects of P.K. extracts and compared with those of Ciproxin. Extracts of P.K. roots were extracted in the Microbiology Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. Zones of inhibition were measured in mm.
Result: These studies revealed the ability of the extract of P.K. to inhibit effectively the growth of the isolates on nutrient agars. Micro-organisms effectively inhibited were Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas arruginosa, staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus feacalis and Candida albicans. In comparison with Ciproxin, the effects were quite remarkable.
Discussion: The African forests and vegetations are provided by nature for healing and more works are still needed to purely isolate and quantify safe dosages for preventive health hazards like infections. This study reveals and demonstrates PK\'s antimicrobial activities. Comparing these effects with those of Ciproxin, reveals P.K. to be effective against the same microbes.
Conclusion: Pharmaceutical researchers and investigators have more works to do towards the pure identification and extraction of the active agents in P.K responsible for these anti-infective properties to become usable and available to human advantage.


NQJHM Vol. 14 (3&4) 2004: pp. 266-269