Antibacterial activities of Vitelleria paradoxa on some enteric bacteria.

Abstract

Vitex doniana belongs to the family of Verbenaceae. It is the most abundant and widespread of the genus occurring in the savannah regions. This research was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Vitex doniana crude extracts on the clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi. The clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using agar diffusion technique. Phytochemistry of the Vitex doniana crude extracts revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, proteins, and steroids. Ethanolic and acetonic crude extract produced clear zones of inhibition at concentrations ranging from 50 to 150mg/ml. The Minimum inhibitory concentration was between 50 and 200mg/ml and the minimum bacteriocidal concentration was 100mg/ml. Five thousand milligrams per kilogram body weight of the crude extracts were administered to the mice orally and no case of death was recorded. In vivo antimicrobial assay revealed that mice treated with crude ethanolic and acetonic extracts survived after being infected with Salmonella typhi. Similarly, untreated mice (control) died after 48 hours of inoculation with Salmonella typhi. Vitex doniana crude extracts could be potential agents for the treatment of diseases associated with Salmonella typhi