Complete Material Cost #3,000
Order for Complete Material now
ABSTRACT
The study was aimed at evaluating the anti-microbial activity of vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) extract on staphylococcus aureus and Escharichia coli. 100g of the leaf was dissolved in 200ml of ethanol and another with 200ml of water. The leaf extract was filtered after filtration, the filter paper was perforated and placed into the Petri dish and sterilized inside the hot air oven. At 1600 c for one (1) hour. The disc was placed inside another Petri dish and impregnated with the leaf extract, after impregnation the extract was placed back in the hot air oven. One drop of the suspend was transferred into the agar plate and spread with the help of a glass spreader. The bitter leaf was extracted with ethanol solvent. 2ml of the extract was used to impregnate the filter paper disc and dry in the hot air oven for 15 minutes at 1600c. The disc was placed on the agar plate and incubated at 370c for 24hours. It was observed that staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli exhibited sensitivity to the extract, each giving a zone of inhibition of 11.4 and 12.5 respectively for aqueous leaf extract and 11.4 and 11.3 for ethanol leaf extract. Based on this study, I recommend that people should develop the habit of eating vernonia amygdalina leaves (bitter leaf) because it has immense medicinal values in the treatment of various pathogens.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The use of plant and herb extracts in the treatment of human ailments is an ancient act. A practice that has been passed on for generations and scientists in Africa and other developing countries are conducting research into plants in the continent for their possible use in traditional plants and herbs medicine (Nne amaka, 1991). Research into traditional plants and herbs received further boost due to the increasing resistance to many orthodox medicine and thus a search for new organic molecules of plants with anti – microbial properties (Sofowora 1993). The research on the use of medicinal plants for therapy (Enthnotherapy) is also assuming increasing popularity in both advanced and developing countries in chemical and biological sciences (Mkong, 1989).
Cold infusion of the leaves is used for the relief of stomach upset and haemorrhoids (Essien, 1982). The use of plant extracts and phyto – products is gaining attention due to their availability, cost effectiveness, proven nature of specificity, biodegrability, low toxicity and minimum residual toxicity in the eco – system (Ogbo and Oyibo, 2008).
A lot of work has been carried out to prove that several plant species possess anti fungal and antibacterial properties (Ficker et al, 2003, Erdogrul, 2002, Maji et al, 2005). For thousands of years medicines depends almost on flowers, bark, leaves and fruits of plants. Only recently have synthetic drugs most of which are similar to compounds identified in plants. In the past twenty five years, intensive efforts have been made to discover new chemically useful antibiotics (Mitsher and Loydia, 1972). Recently considerable research activities had focused on the identification of new anti- bacterial agents from plants, which led to the discovery of more than a thousand antibiotics out of which only a dozen are promising and the search for new antibiotics among the lower plants has also increased (Cos et al, 2006, Goleniowi et al, 2006). But the hope placed on the discoveries of this field had been doubtful as a result of the worrisome phenomenon of antibiotics resistance of the common bacteria’s isolated, and in addition, multidrug resistance bacteria and becoming a challenge to a concentional treatment regimens which have led to a continuous search for potent antimicrobial agents (Rios et al, 2005, Benynon et al, 2006).
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Vernonia amygdaline commonly known as bitter leaf (English), Oriwo (Edo), Ewuro (Yoruba), Shuwaka (Hausa), and Olubu (Igbo) is a tropical shrub that grows up to 3 meters high in the African tropics and other parts of Africa particularly Nigeria, Cameroon and Zimbabwe (Ghamba et al, 2014). Vernonia amygdalina is commonly called bitter leaf because of its bitter taste. It is a member of the asteraceae family and a small ever green shrub. The leaves are dark green colored with a characteristics odour and a bitter taste. It is reputed to have several earth benefits. It is effective against amoebic dysentery, gastrointestinal disorder and has antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities (Mountdipa et al, 2000). It is reported to be a medicinal plant for diabetes and fever (Crellin et al, 1989). Bitter herbs are reportedly good for the body as they help done the vital organs of the body like the kidney and liver. The leaves are eaten after crushing and washing thoroughly to remove the bitterness (Mayhew and Penny, 1998).
However, almost all parts of the plant are pharmacologically useful, both the root and the leaves are used in phyto – medicine to treat fever, hiccups, kidney diseases and stomach discomfort among others (Argheore et al, 2000). Ethnomidically, the leaves are consumed either as a vegetable (macerated leaves in soup) or aqueous extracts as tonics for the treatment of various illnesses (Igile et al, 1995). In the wild, chimpanzees have been observed to ingest the leaves when suffering from parasitic infections (Huffman et al, 1993).
The roots of Vernonia Amygdalina have been used for gingivitis and toothache due to its proven anti microbial activity (Ademola and Eloff, 2011).
Many herbalists and naturopathic doctors recommend aqueous extracts for their patients as treatment for anemia, nausea, diabetes, loss of appetite dysentery and other gastro intestinal track problems. Vernonia Amygdaline extracts have also been reported to help suppress, delay, or kill cancerous cells (Knpchan et al, 1969).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There are several reports in the literature regarding the antimicrobial activity of crude extracts prepared from plants. The use of traditional medicine and medicinal plants in most developing countries, as a normative basis for the maintenance of good health, has been widely observed. Further more, an increasing reliance on the use of medicinal plants in the industrialized societies has been traced to the extraction and development of several drugs, chemotherapeutics from these plants as well as from traditionally used rural herbal remedies. Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. The clinical efficiency of many existing antibiotics is been threatened by emergency of multi drug resistant pathogens.
Bacterial and fungal pathogens have evolved numerous defense mechanism against antimicrobial agents and resistance to old and newly produced drugs is on the rise. The increasing failure of chemotherapeutics and anti biotic resistance exhibited by pathogenic microbial infections agents has held to the screening of several medicinal plants for their potential anti microbial activity.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on evaluation of Anti-microbial activity of bitter leaf (Vernonia Amygdalina) on staphylococcus aureus and E. coli and different properties of bitter leaf as a medicinal plant.
1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To evaluate anti – microbial activities of bitter leaf (Vernomia Amygdalina) on staphylococcus aureus and E.coli.
This research work is designed to investigate the in-vitro activity of bitterleaf (Veronia Amygdalina) against selected organisms causing diarrhea and dysentery. Isolate and identify some of the bacterial organisms associated with dysentery or diarrhea in young children.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The importance of this study or research work is that it can be used by both pharmaceutical industry and department of science laboratory technology as it educates and discusses some of the vital properties of bitterleaf (Veronia Amygdalina). It discusses some of the medicinal properties of Veronia Amygdalina. It also discusses on some of the nutritional and antimicrobial properties of Veronia Amygdalina leaves, lastly it serves as a further study on the various properties and function of bitter leaf (Veronia Amygdalina).
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
- Medicinal plant: medicinal plant is any plant which in one or m ore of its organ, contains substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes or which contains substances which can be used as precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs.
- Staphylococcus: it is a genus of gram- positive from motile spherical bacteria occurring in grape like chusters. Some species are saprophytes. Other parasites, many species produces exotoxin. The specie S. aureus is commonly present on skin and mucous membranes, it causes boils and internal absecces. More serious infections caused by staphyloco eli include pneumonia, bacteraemia, osteomyelitis, and enterocilitis.
- Escherichia coli(E-coli ): it is a genus of gram negative, generally motile, rod-like bacteria that have the ability to ferment carbohydrates, usually with production of gas, and are found in the intestines of humans and of many animals, usually not harmful byt some strains cause gastro intestinal infections. Ingestion of the pathogenic serotype E. coli 0157, derived from infected meat, causes colitis with bloody diarrhaea, which may give rise to the complications of haemolytic uraemic syndrome or thrombocytopenic purpura.
- coli is widely used in laboratory for bacteriological and genetics studies.