Inhibitory potential of natural plant extracts against <i>Escherichia coli</i> strain isolated from diarrheic camel calves

Abstract

Background: Camel calf’s diarrhea is considered the chief economic loss in the camelid population. There is currently
no vaccine licensed to prevent colibacillosis in camel calves. The new era of bacterial antibiotic resistance explains the
treatment failure and the high mortality and morbidity associated with the disease. Current protective treatments have
thus far limited efficacy and need to be replaced. Due to their antimicrobial properties and safety, natural products are
recently finding a capital role in infection management.
Aims: The current study explores Escherichia coli F17 susceptibility as a clinical strain isolated from diarrheic camel
calves to a wide panel of natural products.
Methods: Agar diffusion method, integrity of cell membrane, hydrophobicity of bacterial surface, biofilm assays, and  motility were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Coffea, Retama raetam, Moringa oleifera, Juniperus phoenicea,  Uritica dioica, Camellia sinensis, Lavandula angustifolia, and Cuminum cyminum extracts against isolated bacteria.
Results: Interestingly, all eight tested extracts have the damaging ability of E. coli F17’s cell membrane and cause the
nucleic acid release after 12 hours. Escherichia coli F17 strain has the surface of hydrophobicity which changed after
contact with extracts of the plant. Moreover, the motility of the studied bacteria changed after exposure to all plant
extracts.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that all extracts, exempt U. dioica, can remove up to 50% biofilm of E. coli biomass as compared with the control. Natural extracts can be used as potential antimicrobial agents to mitigate diarrhea in camel calves.