Antibacterial effects of Phyllantus amarus on urinary tract pathogens

Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern as the clinical efficacy of many existing antibiotics is being threatened by the emergence of multidrug resistance pathogens. Phyllantusamarus has been showing to possess various properties including antibacterial property by many authors. This study was therefore designed to investigate the antibacterial effects of aqueous and methanolic extract of Phyllantusamarus on urinary tract pathogens. 10g of the concentrated extract from methanol and aqueous was simultaneously dissolved in 100ml of water and used to make two-fold dilutions, to give100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.3, 3.2, 1.6 and 0.8mg/ml as extract concentrations. 10 different concentrations, 12.5, 6.3, 3.2, 1.6, 0.8, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05mg/ml and 5µg/ml, of the control drug ciprofloxacin were also prepared. The phytochemical constituents of both methanolic and aqueous extract were also investigated. Fourteen isolates from urine sample were identified. These isolates, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klesiella pneumonia, Enteroccocusfeacalis, Proteus mirabillis, Staphylococcus saprophytic sand Control standard Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were subjected to antibacterial effect of varying concentration of these methanolic and aqueous extract of phyllantusamarus and standard drug ciprofloxacin using agar well diffusion method. The diameter in millmiters of the inhibition zones was measured, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration were also determined. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 17. The extract was found to containsaponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phlobatanins and terpenoids. Both aqueous and methanolic extract of P. amarus caused a concentration dependent increase in zones of inhibition of the growth of the isolates. The MIC and MBC values were however found to be high compare to the standard. There was no significant different between Agar well diffusion method and disc diffusion method. The study clearly showed that P. amarus has appreciable antibacterial properties. However, there is need for improvement in approaches for natural product isolation and characterization so that the bioactivity and potency of the drug can be improved upon.