In vivo assessment of antibacterial activity of Cassia sieberiana stem bark extracts on enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection in Wister rats
1Usanga, V. U., 1Ukwah, B. N., 2William, O., *1Kalu, M. E., 3Akpan, J. L., 1Azi, O. S., and 1Ude, U. A.
1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
2Department of Laboratory Services, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
3Department of Pharmacology, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: kalu.erem@ebsu.edu.ng; +234806 402 8592
Abstract:
Background: The acceptance of traditional medicine as an alternative form of health care has led researchers to further investigate the antimicrobial and other health benefits of medicinal plants including Cassia sieberiana. The objective of this study is to assess the in vivo antibacterial effects of C. sieberiana stem bark extracts on infections caused by human and animal isolates of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in Wister rats.
Methodology: This in vivo study was designed for 21 days in 3 phases of 7 days each; adaptation, infection and treatment. Escherichia coli were isolated from aerobic cultures of human and cattle faecal samples and EHEC 0157 identified by serological typing using latex agglutination method. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of authenticated C. sieberiana stem bark, were prepared using standard method. Forty-five Wister rats were randomly divided into 9 groups (A-I) of 5 rats each. Rats in group A (uninfected with human or animal EHEC isolate and untreated) served as negative control while rats in group B (infected with EHEC animal isolate and untreated) and group C (infected with EHEC human isolate and untreated) served as positive controls. Rats in group C through group I were experimental groups that were either infected with human or animal EHEC isolate and treated, or uninfected but treated with ethanol and aqueous extracts of C. sieberiana. During each of the study phase, faecal samples were collected from the rats and processed for evaluation of EHEC count and to determine faecal occult blood. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20.0 and categorical variables were compared with Pearson’s Chi-square, with significant value taken as p<0.05 Continue reading “In vivo assessment of antibacterial activity of Cassia sieberiana stem bark extracts on enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection in Wister rats”