Abstract:
This study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of Azadirachta indica and Syzigium guineense
leaves against bacteria associated with urinary schistosomiasis. One hundred and nine (109)
terminal urine samples were collected from male and female subjects across different age
cohorts in Ipogun community. Parasitological and bacteriological examination of urine samples
for the detection of ova of Schistosoma haematobium and associated bacteria were carried out
using standard methods respectively. Fresh leaves of A. indica and S. guineense were air dried
and extracted using sterile distilled water and ethanol. Antibacterial assay, minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the plant extracts
against isolated bacteria were also elucidated. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacteria
isolates to conventional antibiotics were determined by disc diffusion method. Phytochemical
constituents of A. indica and S. guineense leaves were elucidated using standard techniques. Of
the 109 urine samples examined, 81 (74.31%) were positive for Bacteriuria. Bacteriuria
prevalence related to age and sex was found to be insignificant at p>0.05. Of the 109 urine
samples examined, 42 (38.5%) were positive for schistosomiasis. Age and sex were significant
(p<0.05) in the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis. Of the 42 samples that were positive for
schistosomiasis, 32 (39.5%) were associated with bacteriuria. Bacteria encountered in order of
prevalence were Klebsiella pneumonia (21.1%), Proteus vulgaris (15.60%), Escherichia coli
(11.93%), Yersinia enterocolitica (10.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (9.217%), Enterobacter
aerogenes (7.33%), Salmonella enteric (4.59%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.83%). The
MIC of the various plant extracts against isolated and typed bacteria ranged from 6.25 mg/mL –
12.5 mg/mL, while the MBC ranged from 6.25 mg/mL – 25 mg/mL. Qualitatively, saponin,
tannin, flavonoid, steroid, terpenoid and glycoside were present in all the plant extracts, while
alkaloid and phlobatannin were absent in the extracts. Quantitatively, terpenoid was the highest
bioactive compound in aqueous extract of A. indica (25.15 ± 0.04) and ethanol extract of S.
guineense (51.16 ± 0.03), while saponin was the highest in the aqueous extract of S. guineense
(72.09 ± 1.67) and ethanol extract of A. indica (220.82 ± 0.64). This study revealed the
antibacterial candidature of A. indica and S. guineense on Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria associated with urinary schistosomiasis.
