Trema orientalis Linn. Blume: Susceptibility Patterns of Selected Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Fungi to the Leaf Extracts

Abstract

This study investigates the antifungal and antibacterial activities of extracts of Trema orientalis linn. Blume. The selected isolates used in the study includes Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus faecalis, Shigella dysenteriae, Proteus mirabilis, Haemolytic Streptococcus viridian, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans ,and Aspergillus flavus.  The antibiogram profile of the organism was obtained using the disc diffusion method. Tannin, flavonoid, Terpenoid, Saponin, and cardiac glycosides were found present in T. orientalis. The antibiotic sensitivity test reveals the presence of multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria. The agar well diffusion method was used to assay the antibiotic activities of the extract. The extracts were prepared from T. orientalis using Methanol and petroleum ether as extraction solvents.  The antibacterial assay shows the efficacy of the methanol and petroleum ether extracts except on S. aureus ATCC 43300 and Shigella dysenteriae. The highest zones of inhibition by methanol and petroleum ether extracts were recorded on Salmonella typhi of 22.003 ± 0.003 mm and 32.002 ± 0.002 mm, respectively. The fungal isolates were susceptible to the extracts with the zones 11.67±0.33 mm and 13.67±0.33 mm. The results of the sensitivity test compared well with that of the antimicrobial test. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration ranged between 3.125- 25.00 mg/mL. T. Orientalis contains bioactive compounds that has antimicrobial effects. The leaf of Trema orientalis has broad - spectrum activity, hence T. Orientalis methanol and Petroleum ether extracts is recommended for  exploration as source of antimicrobial agents.