Antibacteral Activity of Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract Against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT).

Abstract

Adansonia digitata (A. digitata) also known as baobab is a traditional medicinal plant that has been reported to possess antibacterial properties. This study was carried out to determine the antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extract of A. digitata leaves extracts against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The leaves extract were screened for their phytochemical constituents to evaluate the availability of active compounds. The leaves extraction were subjected to antibacterial analysis by agar well diffusion method using different concentrations. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, saponins, phenol, tannins and steroids. The ethanolic leaves extract showed a wide range of activity on test isolates, with varying zones of inhibitions such as 19±1.78 mm, 16.8±1.82mm, 13.1±2.04mm, and 9.6±2.09mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 18.4±1.19mm, 15.2±1.03mm, 12.7±1.60mm, and 11.4±1.07mm against Escherichia coli at concentration of 100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml and 12.5 mg/ml respectively. The aqueous leaves extract also showed a wide range of activity on test isolates with varying zones of inhibitions, such as 13.5±2mm, 10.6±2.38mm, 9.3±2.3mm and 6.3±0.3mm against S.aureus and 15.1±1.6mm, 11.4±1.07mm, 9.6±2.07mm, and 7.00±1.04mm against E. coli.  The ethanolic leaf extract inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus at concentration of 12.5-50mg/ml with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 25-50mg/ml. The aqueous leaves extract inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli at concentration of 25-100mg/ml with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 50-100mg/ml. These results indicate that the ethanolic extract of Adansonia digitata leaves contains a higher amount of bioactive substances resulting to the effectiveness against the pathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial activity of Adansonia digitata leaves extract against E. coli and S. aureus highlights the importance of establishing standardized protocols for extracting and processing the leaves to ensure consistent quality and potency. Further investigation, clinical trials and mechanisms of action of studies is needed.