ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF MAGNIFERAINDICA(MANGO) STEM BARK ON ESCHERICHIA COLI AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

 

 

 

Plant derived products like gums, oils and extracts have been used for therapeutic purpose before the introduction of modern drugs (Haslamet al.,2019) and continues to provide health coverage for over eighty percent of the world’s population. Serious attention is being given to medicinal plants as evidenced by the recommendation given by the World Health Organization in 1970. WHO gave emphasis on the need to include traditional remedies within national drug policies as these plants serve as the best sources of a variety of drugs. It is important to study plants so that a better understanding of their properties, safety and efficacy is derived for improved benefit. The first plant compound with antimicrobial activity was reported in the 1930s and  now  a  multitude  of  plant  compounds  are readily available from herbal suppliers and natural- food  stores.  In Africa, self-medication with  these substances is common and growing in popularity (Lima & Cordeiro, 2016). The  reasons can  be attributed to  easy accessibility and affordability of plants compared to commercial   drugs.   Contrary  to   the   belief   that natural medicine has no ill effects (Lima and Cordeiro, 2016), several people have been hospitalised by consuming plants of unknown properties. To  address such  challenges, plants must be investigated to validate and standardize their dosages. An estimated 74% of pharmacologically active plant derived components were discovered after following up on ethno- medicinal use.  More than 25% of modern 62 medicines are thought to have descended from plants whilst others are synthetic analogues built on prototype compounds, isolated from plants (Wondergem & Senah, 2019). Thus,  medicinal  plants  can  be  regarded  as  the richest bio-resource of drugs of modern medicine, folk medicine and chemical entities for synthetic drugs. There  are  many  drugs  in  clinical  use  today that were discovered from the way plants were used in traditional  communities. Such  discoveries  include quinine which has been used to manage malaria for many years (Ndip & Ajonglefac, 2016), digitoxin an indispensable cardiac drug from Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Other examples are Strychne from Strychnoxnuxvomica which was isolated as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and ephedrine from Ephedra sinica which was discovered for asthma (Ncube & Afolayan, 2007) and taxol which is used as modern therapy for ovarian cancer (Murray et al., 2015). There is little or no doubt that ethnographic research  can  provide  important  clues  leading  to new drugs for the modern pharmacies. Pathogens develop natural resistance to antimicrobial agents.  Most  gram-negative bacteria are impermeable to the antibiotic penicillin G and platensimycin (McDermott & Zhao, 2012). Development of virulent factors among infectious   agents varies. Some bacteria can resist phagocytosis, for instance, Streptococcus pneumonia  and  Haemophilus  influenza  produce  a slippery  mucoid  capsule  that  prevents  the phagocyte  from  effectively  contacting  the bacterium. Staphylococcus aureusproduce leukocidins that destroys phagocytes before phagocytosis. The bacteria produce   coagulase, which coagulates fibrinogen in plasma thus protecting the pathogen from phagocytosis and isolates it  from  other  host  defences  (Iwuet al., 2009). Pseudomonas aeruginosa cleaves laminin associated with  basement  membranes,  E. coli  lyses erythrocytes and weakened host defences. The emergence of multi-resistant bacteria to antimicrobial drugs has increased the need for new antibiotics or modifications of older antibiotics (Mathur & Singh, 2011). One way to prevent antibiotic resistance of pathogenic species is by using new compounds that are not based on existing synthetic antimicrobial agent (Murray et al., 2015). The new  compound may  actually  be more effective than the parent compound. Since resistance  is  based  on  structural  recognition,  the new  compound may  not  be  recognised  by resistance factors. 

Modern  drugs  are  associated  with  several  side effects like nausea and headaches. Man has resorted to   plants  for   treatment  due  to   high  prices  of synthetic drugs. Plants are regarded as cheaper and safe alternative source of drugs. However, cases of overdose or self poisoning through use of medicinal plants have been increasing. An investigation of the antibacterial activity of stem-bark extracts of Mangiferaindica on Staphylococcus aureus was carried out with a view to screen for phyto-chemical compounds and determine susceptibility of the bacterium. 

The antimicrobial activity of plant extracts has been a subject of interest in the field of natural medicine and pharmacology (Farnsworth et al., 2011).The potential antimicrobial properties of Magniferaindica (Mango) stem bark on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are being investigated. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are common pathogenic bacteria that can cause various infections in humans.

The aim of the research on the antimicrobial activity of Magniferaindica (Mango) stem bark on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is to investigate the potential of this natural plant material in inhibiting the growth of these two common pathogenic bacteria. 

Various parts of the mango tree, including the stem bark, have been traditionally used in different cultures for their medicinal properties. The stem bark of the mango tree has gained attention for its potential antimicrobial properties against various pathogens, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.