ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF PLANTS USED BY BIRD (Stigmatopelia senegalensis) IN MAKING ITS NEST ON SOME HUMAN PATHOGENS

Abstract

Stigmatopelia senegalensis is a bird whose nest is made from two plants Sporobolus pyramidalis and Panicum maximum. The antimicrobial activities of extracts of Sporobolus pyramidalis and Panicum maximum plants used by bird Stigmatopelia senegalensis in making its nest was assessed on some selected clinical and typed organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, Salmonella typhi : ATCC 35240, Pseudomonas aeruginosa: ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus aureus: ATCC 43300, Streptococcus pneumoniae: ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli: ATCC 35218, Klebsiella pneumoniae: ATCC 48891 and Candida albicans) using standard microbiological methods. The isolation of bacteria from the nest of the bird showed that three bacteria and three fungi were identified which are Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigates and Fusarium moniliforme. The effective extracts In-vitro was selected for further In-vivo analysis. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the extracts was done. The quantitative phytochemical result showed that ethanol extract of Panicum maximum had the highest saponin content of 38.05 ppm, while tannin, terpenoid, steroid, flavonoid and Anthraquinone was present in little quantity. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of Panicum maximum had higher antimicrobial activity on the selected organisms than the acetone and chloroform extracts. The highest diameter of zone of inhibition of 16.40±1.05 was exerted ethanolic extract of Panicum maximum on Streptococcus pneumoniae: ATCC 43300, while 11.69±0.75 mm diameter was exerted by acetone extract of Sporobolus pyramidalis on Pseudomonas pneumoniae: ATCC 27853. The antagonistic results showed that Bacillus subtilis had antagonistic effect on the test organisms. The results of the animal bio-assay showed that as infection set in, there was drop in weight of the rats. The result of the effect of infection and treatment with the extracts on the rats showed that the extract caused a significant increase in the packed cell volume (PCV) from 37.00% (the control) to 42.50%, reduction in the lymphocyte count (72% to 60%) while causing an increase in the neutrophils (from 18% to 27%) respectively. The liver of rats infected and treated with the extract showed karyolysis, hepatocellular drainage, cell infiltrations, washed hepatocytes, inflammatory cell infiltrations and disappearing sinusoids without necrosis, haemorrhage or degeneration of hepatocytes. The kidney showed haemorrhage, necrosis, mass deposit of hyaline casts and degeneration of kidney nephrones without any prominent nucleus. Therefore, Panicum maximum and Sporobolus pyramidalis used by Stigmatopelia senegalensis bird in making its nest has some antimicrobial property that could be harnessed in development of new or novel antimicrobial agents.