ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF CRASSOCEPHALUM CREPIDIODES EXTRACTS ON ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM WOUNDS IN POST OPERATIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

The total numbers of 241 bacteria were isolated from wound samples of post-operative patients at the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure. The isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli) were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity tests using disc diffusion method. The resistant bacterial were subjected to the inhibitory activities of Crassocephalum crepidiodes extracts using agar well diffusion technique. With varied concentrations from 37.5 mg/ml to 300 mg/ml zones of inhibition were observed and recorded in millimeters. At 300mg/ml, Hot Water Leaf extract of C. crepidiodes recorded highest inhibitory activity against E. coli (13.42mm) and lowest against S. pyogenes (3.72mm zone of inhibition); Hot water stem extract at 300mg/ml recorded high inhibitory activity against S. epidermidis (9.55mm) and lowest against K. pneumoniae (5.74mm). Cold water Leaf extract at 300mg/ml recorded highest inhibitory activity against S. epidermidis (11.38mm) and lowest against S. aureus (7.88mm); however, the cold water Stem extract at 300mg/ml showed highest inhibitory activity against S. aureus (10.47mm) and lowest against P. mirabilis (6.47mm). The methanol leaf extract at 300 mg/ml recorded the highest activity against S. aureus (16.06mm) followed by E. coli (12.50mm) and K. pneumoniae (8.03mm). The methanol stem extract had highest activity at 300 mg/ml against S. pyogenes (12.37mm), lowest against P. aeruginosa (4.33mm). Petroleum ether leaf extract at 300mg/ml recorded highest inhibitory activity against S. pyogenes (13.75mm) and lowest against P. aeruginosa (4.84 mm). The results of plasmid profiling and curing revealed that the resistance exhibited by E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes and K. pneumoniae was plasmid mediated while the resistance exhibited by P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis was chromosomal based. Proximate analysis on the extracts of C. crepidiodes shows higher ash content (9.89) and Carbohydrate content (10.48) in Methanol Leaf extract. The highest value for moisture (35.55) and Protein content (14.18) was recorded in Stem Hot Water Extract while Leaf Hot Water Extract recorded the highest Crude fat content (24.89) and Petroleum ether Leaf extract had the highest Crude fibre content (22.26). Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, phenols and cardiac glycosides. Active fractions from column chromatography with the highest inhibitory effect were subjected to infrared spectroscopy to identify the functional groups in the bioactive components. Results showed the presence of hydroxyl group, aldehyde and aliphatic ether group, alkene and aromatic ketone at the finger print region of the spectra. From this research, it was confirmed that the leaf and stem extracts of C. crepidiodes possess antibacterial potency which will assist in the preliminary treatment of wound infections, most especially those implicated by antibiotic resistant S. aureus and E. coli