Bacteriological profile and in vitro antibacterial activities of some liquid herbal preparations sold in Abia State, south-eastern Nigeria

Okechukwu G Pipi, Emmanuel O Nwankwo, Kelechi N Onusiriuka

Abstract


Background: The use of liquid herbal preparations in the treatment and management of human diseases has long been practiced before the advent of chemotherapy and is a fundamental component of the African traditional healthcare system.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to analyze the bacteriological profile and in vitro antibacterial activities of selected indigenous liquid herbal products sold in Abia State, Nigeria. METHODS: A total of 315 bacterial strains were isolated from 150 therapeutic liquid herbal preparations (LHPs) sold in different parts of Abia State. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from these products; the isolates were evaluated for total aerobic plate count, Gram’s reaction, biochemical reaction. Antibacterial activity was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibitory zone diameter (IZD).The MBC, MIC and invitro antibacterial activities of LHPs were carried out against 3 test clinical bacterial isolates; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using agar well diffusion methods.

Results: The number of isolates obtained in this study were; 100 (31.4%), 84 (26.7%) 131 (41.6%) from Umuahia, Ohafia and Aba respectively. The genera isolated included Salmonella, Bacillus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Citrobacter and Pseudomonas. Out of 150 LHPs processed, 20 showed no bacterial growth. Different concentrations of these LHPs were evaluated for their antibacterial activities. MIC for LHPs with antibacterial activities range from 6.25-100%. MBC ranged from 12.5-100%, while IZD had range of 6-20mm.

Conclusion: The study revealed that some tested liquid herbal preparations were grossly contaminated with bacteria while some had antibacterial activities.

Key words: Liquid herbal preparations, Antibacterial activity


References


Abba D, Inabo HI, Yakubu SE and Olontola SO (2009). Contamination of Herbal Medicinal Product Marketed in Kaduna Metropolis with Selected Pathogenic Bacteria. Afr. J. Tradit. Complement. Altern. Med. 6:70 – 77.

Adeleye IA, Okogi G and Ojo EO (2005). Microbial contamination of herbal preparations in Lagos, Nigeria. J. Health Popul. Nutr. 23:296-297.

Adenike O, Babatunde AA and Oluwatoyin AO (2007). Evaluation of Pharmaceutical and Microbial Qualities of Some Herbal Medicinal Products in South Western Nigeria. Trop, J, Pharm, Res. 6: 661-670

Agbo BE and Mboto CI (2012). Phytochemical and Antibacterial Evaluation of Selected Locally Produced Herbal Medicines Sold in Calabar, Nigeria. Arch. Appl. Sci. Res. 4:1974-1990.

Ampofo JA, Andoh A, Tettah W and Bello M (2012). Microbiological profile of some Ghanaian herbal preparation- Safety issues and implications for the health profession. Open J. Med. Microbiol. 2.121-130

Baba-Moussa F, Adjanohoun A, Anihouvi VB, Ahouandjnou H, Sanni S, Omansen TF, Kotchoni SO, Toukourou F and Baba-Moussa L. (2013) Quality-based microbial contamination analysis of nutraceuticals. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2: 46-51.

Bachoon DS and Wendy AD. (2008). Microbiology Laboratory Manual. Ed. Michael Stranz. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Exercise 15, "Normal Flora of the Intestinal Tract" Print.

Baron E and Finegold S. in Bailey and Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology, 8th Ed. (1990). The Mosby Company, St. Louis, MO.

Bauer AW, Kirby WM, Sherris JC and Turck M (1996). Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disc method. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 45:493-496.

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute CLSI. (2008). M07-A9. Methods for Dilution of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests for Bacteria That Grow Aerobically; Approved Standard. 9th Ed.

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute CLSI. (2008) M11-A8. Methods for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Anaerobic Bacteria.

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute CLSI. (2013) M02-A11. Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Disk Susceptibility Tests; Approved Standard, 11th Ed.

Erich C, Wolfgang K and Brigitte K (2001). Microbiological status of commercially available medicinal herbal drugs. A screenings study: Planta Med. 67:263-269.

Esimone CO, Oleghe PO, Ibezim EC, Okeh CO, Iroha IR (2007). Susceptibility-resistance profile of microorganisms isolated from herbal medicine products sold in Nigeria. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 6:2766=2775.

Forest J (2004). Fecal Coliforms. University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory Manual. 36: 4

Gregory JF (2005). Enteric diseases-outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness. Surveillance report. Vict. Inf. Dis. Bull. 8:12-14

Harrigan GG, Ahmad A, Baj N, Glass TE, Gunatilaka AA and Kingston DG (1993). Bioactive and other sesquiterpenoids from Porella cordeana. J. Nat. Prod. 56: 921–5.

Hugo WC, and Russel AD (2004) Pharmaceutical Microbiology. 7th Edition United Kingdom; BlackWell Science.

Khanyile ZC, Singh N, Smith M, Shode FO, Mngomezulz S and Dewir YH (2009). Comparative assessment of bacterial contamination in commercial herbal products of Lessertia futescens. Am. Eurasian J. Agric. Environ. Sci. 5: 494 – 499.

Kolajo TT (2000). The study of ecology and microbial flora of some locally prepared herbal medicines in Abeokuta. ND Project, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Kulkarni C, Deshpande A and More S (1999). Assessment of microbial contamination in commercial herbal oral medicinal liquids. IJPRD. 2: 191-194.

Miles AA and Mirsa SS (1938). The Estimation of the Bactericidal Power of the Blood. J Hyg (Lond). 38:732–749

Nakajima K, Nonaka K, Yamamoto K, Yamaguchi N, Tani K and Nasu M (2005). Rapid monitoring of microbial contamination on herbal medicines by fluorescent staining method. Lett. Appl. Microbiol; 40: 128-132.

Nordmann P, Gaelle C and Thierry N (2009). The real threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing bacteria. Lancet Infect. Dis. 9:228-236.

Ogunshe AO, Fashola TR, Egungom A (2006). Bacterial profiles and consumed herbal medication in Nigeria, JRTPH. 5:27-33

Okunade AO (2001). The underdevelopment of health care system in Nigeria, pp.43. Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Dentistry, University of Ibadan. Vantage publishers Ltd. Ibadan, Nigeria.

Okunlola A, Adewoyin AB, Odeku AO (2007). Evaluation of pharmaceutical and microbial qualities of some herbal medicinal products in south western Nigeria. Trop. J. Pharm. Res. 6: 661-670.

Oleghe PO, Odimegwu DC, Udofia E, Esimone CO (2011). Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria Isolates Recovered from Herbal Medicinal Preparations in a Southern Nigerian Setting. J. Rural Trop. Pub. Health. 10: 70‐75

Onyambu MO, Chepkwony HK, Thoithi GN, Ouya GO and Osanjo GO (2013). Microbial quality of unregulated herbal medicinal products in Kenya. Afr. J. Pharmacol. Ther. 2:70-75.

Prasad G, Sharma N and Gupta KK (2002). Quantitative enumeration of microflora of certain herbal Ayurvedic drugs during storage. Hamdard Med. 1: 73-77.

Riaz S, Faisal M and Hasnain S (2011). Antibiotic susceptibility pattern and multiple antibiotic resistances (MAR) calculation of extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species in Pakistan. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 10:6325-6331.

Rojas JJ, Ochoa VJ, Ocampo SA and Munoz JF (2006). Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric Medicine. A possible altertive in the treatment of non-nosocomial Infections. BMO Complem. Altern. Med. 6:2.91

Sharmin M, Nur IF, Acharjee M, Munushi SK and Noor R (2014). Microbiological profiling and demionstration of invitro antibacterial traits of the major oral herbal medicines used in Dhaka metropolis. Springer Plus. 3:739

Sofowora A (1993). Medicinal plants and Traditional Medicines in Africa. Spectrum books Ltd (pub) Ibadan: 50-195.

Tella A (1978). Traditional Medicines. Practice and Prospects. Nigerian J. Pharm. Sci. 9: 7-12

Ujam NT, Oli HN, Ikegbunam MN, Adikwu MU and Esimone CO (2013). Antimicrobial resistance evaluation of organisms isolated from liquid herbal products manufactured and marketed in South Eastern Nigeria. Br. J. Pharmacol. 3:548-562


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.