INTRODUCTION
The history of the use of herbs in the management of
diseases dates back to the time of the early man (Sofowora, 1982 and Kafara,
1994). In herbal medicine, herbs / plants are being used in their unaltered
form for the treatment of disease. (Physiological society of Nigeria, 2009). The
WHO estimates that nearly 70% of the world population depend on traditional
medicine, especially medicinal plants, for their primary health needs (Ansah. et al, 2011).
Alchornea cordifolia, a medium-sized shrubby tree is
one of such herbs. It belongs to the subfamily Acalypholdeae and family Euphorbiaceae
or spurge family. It is sometimes scrambling bushy, perenial shrub or small
tree, up to 4m high reproducing from seeds. (Osadebe. et al, 2012). Its common name includes Poruru, Poruro, Purosa,
macochichua and Nianda. The English name is Christmas bush, and Efik name is
Mbom (Physiological society of Nigeria, 2009). It is also known as Ewe Ipa,
Ubobo and Bambami in Nigeria. (Adeshina. et
al, 2012).
It is widely distributed from Senegal east to Kenya,
Tanzania, South and Central Africa to Angola it is cultivated in DR congo for
its medicinal use (Mavar-Mange. et al,
2004), and geographically distributed in secondary forest usually near water,
moist or marshy places. (Adeshina. et al, 2012).
Alchornea cordifolia is commonly used as a medicinal plant
throughout its area of distribution. The leaves are mostly used, but also the
stem bark, stem pith, leafy stems, root bark, roots and fruits enter into local
medicine. The leaves or leafy stems, are chewed fresh taken for their sedative
and antispasmodic problems including sore throat, cough and bronchitis.
Genital-urinary problem including venereal diseases and female sterility. It
can also be used to treat intestinal problems including gastric-ulcers, diarrhoea,
amoebic dysentery and worms. They are also taken as blood purifier, as a tonic
and to treat anaemia and epilepsy. In Nigeria a decoction of bruised fruit is
taken to prevent miscarriage.
It has been found to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial
and analgesic properties (Cesario, 1993). The phytochemical properties include alchorneine,
anthranilic acid, gentisnic acid, iso-alchorneine, yohimbine and alkaloids (Duke
and Vasquez, 1994).
A majority of Nigerian population still rely on
Traditional Medicine. Available evidence suggests that some herbal remedies and
traditional therapeutic regimes are efficacious and affordable (TMP, 2007).
The aqueous and ethanol extracts from Alchornea cordifolia
were found to inhibit to growth of some negative bacteria and E. coli and K. pneumoniae being gram-negative bacteria were believed to be
inhibited (Ajao. et al, 1985).
PROPERTIES
The roots and the stem bark contain trepenoids,
steroid, glycosides, flavonoids (2-3%), tannis (about 10%), saporins, carbohydrates
and the imidazopyrimidine alkaloids. The leaves also contain a range of
hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, ethyl ester, gentisic acid, anthranilic acid
(vitamin L1) and protocatechuic acid (Mavar-Manga. et al, 2007)
AIM
To detect the sensitivity of Alchornea cordifolia
stem, leaves, root and bark on the E.
coli and K. Pneumoniae as an extended spectrum beta lactamase producing organisms.
OBJECTIVES
To shown that Alchornea cordifolia is a good herb for infections
and diseases caused by E. coli and K. Pneumoniae.
To show that Alchornea cordifolia is also a good herb
for infections caused by E. coli and K. pneumoniae producing extended spectrum
beta lactamase enzyme.
To show that K.
Pneumoniae. and E. coli can be present
in a healthy individual without causing diarrhea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collection of Alchornea cordifolia leaf, stem, root,
and bark
- Preparation of their extracts and its
derived fractions
- Phytochemical screening
- Soxhlet extractor
- dessicator
- Extraction of the secondary metabolites
- Collection of feaces from health
staffs of a fast food joint in Abakaliki. To isolate E. coli and K. Pneumoniaes in
extended spectrum beta lactamase enzyme.
COLLECTION
OF ALCHORNEA CORDIFOLIA PARTS
Stem, roots, barks and leaves of Alchornea cordifolia will be
collected from Abakaliki.
IDENENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION
The
parts of alchornea cordifolia parts will be identified and authenticed in near
research institute.
EXTRACTION OF THE PARTS WITH ETHANOL, METHANOL,
ACETONE HOT WATER AND COLD WATER
After
drying of the parts,they will be reduced to powderd form. The active parts will
be extracted with ethanol, methanol,acetone,hot and cold water with a soxhlrt
extractor and kept in a dessicator.
DETERMINATIONM OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE
PLANT EXTRACTS ON EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA LACTAMASE (ESBL) PRODUCING BACTERIA.
The
reaction of the plants extracts on the isolated ESBL bacteria organisms (E.coli and K.pneumoniae) will be determined.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE
BACTERIA PRODUCING ESBL ENZYMES.
E.coli forms circular convex, smooth colonies with distinct
edges, ferment lactose, produce Shemolysis on blood agar,motile, oxidase and
citrate negative, positive for indole, lysine decarboxylase and manitol
fermtation whereas K.pneumoniae
produce large and regular polysaccharide capsules,colonies are large and
muciod,tent to coalesce with prolonged incubation, lack motility, positive for
lysine decarboxylase and citrate.
SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING
It
will be carried out according to McFarland scales (0.5 McFarland is about 106 cfu/ml ) and a sterile cork borer will
be used to bore equidistant cups on the agar plates.
DETERMINATION OF MINIMIUM INHIBITORY
CONCENTRATION (M.I.C).
Sterile
Mueller-Hinton agar plates will be prepared using double dilution method. The
different parts of solidified Alchornea
cordifolia admixture plates will be inoculated with 2.0ml of standardized 18
hour culture test organism. The inocula will be allowed to diffuse into
the test agar plates for 30 min and incubated at 37oC for 18 hour.
The lowest concentration of the extracts in the test agar plates that showed no
growth will be considered as the M.I.C of the extract against the test
organism.
DETERMINATION OF MINIMIUM BACTERIA
CONCENTRATION (M.B.C).
This
will be carried out by inoculating the concentration of the extract/fraction
sterile nutrient broth test-tubes containing inactivating agents 3% v/v TWEEN
80. the test-tube will be incubated at 37oC for 24 hours after which
they will be examined for presence or absence of growth.
SCREENING FOR THE PHYTOCHEMICAL
COMPOTENT OF PLANT EXTRACT
The
phytochemical analysis of the active parts will be determined to detect the
presence of flavonoids,trepenoids, steroid, glycosides, tannis,
saporins,carbohydrates imidazopysionidine alkaloids, gallic acid, ethyl ester,
gentisic acid, hydroxybenzoic acids, anthranilic acid and protocatechuic acid.
REFERENCES
Ajao
A.O, Shonukan O. and Femi-Onadeko B.(1985).Antibacterial effect of aqueous and
alcohol extracts of spondias mombin and Alchornea
cordifolia. Two local antimicrobial remedies. Vol.23 (2):67-72.
Caseerio,
A. (1993). Screeening of plants used in
argentine folk medicine for antimicrobial activity.Journal of
Enthnopharmacology,Vol 139:119-128.
Charles
Ansah, Emmanuel Oppong and Eric Woode. (2011). Subacute Oral Toxicity
assessment of Alchornea cordifolia (schumach and Thonn). Vol. 10 (5): 587-594.
Duke
J Vasquez,R (1994). Amazonian Entnobotanical Dictionary,Florida.CRC Press
Incorporated.vol 112:101-102.
G.O.
Adeshina, O.F. Kunle, J.A. Onaolapo, J.O. Ehinmidu and L.E. Odama (2012)
Phytochemical and Antibacteria I studies of the hexane Extract Phytochemicals as Nutraceuticals –
global approaches to their Role in Nutrition
and Health, Dr. venketeshwer Rao (Ed), ISBN Available from
http://www.intechopen.com/books/phybochemical-as-nutraceuticals-global-approaches
to their role of Alchornea cordifolia leaf.
Mavar-Manga
H, Lejoly J,Quetin-Leclercq J. and Schmelzer,G.H (2007). Alchornea cordifolia
(Schumach and Thonn.) Mull Arg.PROTA.
Mavar-Manga
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Patience
O. Osadebe, Fetus BC Okoye, Philip F. Uzor, Nneka R. Nnamani, Ijeoma O.E. Adide
and Nkemakonam C. Obiano (2012). Phytochemical analysis, hepatoprotective and
antioxidant activity of alcrornea cordifolia methanol leaf extract on carbon
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TMP
(2007).Traditional Medicine Policy for Nigerian. Pp. 66.
Zuleikha
N. A, Omonkhelin O. J. Buniyamin AA, Paul 10, (2010) Evaluation of the oxytocic
activity of the ethanol extract of the roots of Alchornea cordifolia. In green
Pharm. 4:247-250. The extracts from leaves of A. Cordifolia were found to
inhibit the growth of bacteria such as E. coli
DEPARTMENT: APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
FACULTY: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES