Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of Tamarindus indica leaves and fruits extracts against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Shigella sp isolated from stool samples of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was conducted using laboratory method while agar well diffusion method was used to determine antibacterial activity of the extracts. The result of phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of alkaloid, glycoside, saponin, tannin, anthraquinone and steroid, reducing sugar flavonoid, terpenoid and phenol. The result of the antibacterial efficacy of the extracts against the isolates indicated the extracts were active against the isolates with higher activity in methanol extract (with average zone of inhibition of 14.48mm) when compared to aqueous extract (12.52mm). The result of susceptibility of the isolates to the extracts showed Escherichia coli is more sensitive to the extract with average zone of inhibition of 14.62mm when compared to Shigella sp with average zone of inhibition of 11.47mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts showed that dilutions of various concentrations of aqueous and methanol extracts inhibit the growth of the isolates at a concentration of between 3.125–25mg/ml. Statistical analysis of the results indicated that there is significant different in the activity of the extracts against the isolates used at p<0.05. Findings from this work support the use of Tamarindus indica leaves and fruits extracts for medicinal purpose.

Keywords

antibacterial activity, Escherichia coli, extract, Shigella, tamarinds , medicinal herbs, herbal remedies, vegetable, synthetic drugs, antibacterial drugs