Nigerian Journal of Science, Technology and Environmental Education (NIJOSTEE), Vol. 3, No. 1, July 2010 ISSN: 0331-9873 In Vitro Determination of Bactericidal Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichi coli Medical Microbiology Department, Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo.Abstract Sensitivity patterns of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from 227 (35%) males and 418 (65%) females with signs and symptoms suggestive of Urinary tracts infections (UTls) were determined between May and December 1998 using garlic extracts. Six hundred and thirty five (98.4%) of the 645 samples were culture positive while 10 (1.6%) were culture negative. Of the 635 positive cultures, 247 (38.9%) yielded Escherichia coli, 100 (15.7%) were Staphylococcus s, 97 (15.3%) grew Klebsiella spp, 96 (15.1%) were Streptococcus species, 95 (15.1%) were Candida species. The potency of garlic extracts were shown by susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia colt to it. Zone diameters of 17 - 35mm were obtained from garlic inhibition against Escherichia coli while that of 16 - 30mm of same were obtained against Staphylococcus aureus.- The mean zone of inhibition for Escherichia coli was 29mm and that of Staphylococcus aureus was 20mm. For controls, Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), commercially prepared nalidixic acid (oxoid) and Tetracycline (oxoid) were employed in the test. On Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) nalidixic acid gave a zone of inhibition of 20mm while garlic extract gave a zone of inhibition of 25mm, and on Staphylococcus au reus (ATCC25923) tetracycline gave a zone of inhibition of 20mm while garlic extracts gave 22mm zone of inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentration of garlic extracts on Escherichia coli was 30mg while that of Staphylococcus aureus was 50mg. The results of this investigation show that garlic extract is potent against both E. coli and S.aureaus at concentrations that both naldixc acid and tetracycline were resisted by these pathogens in vitro. Trials of this extract can therefore be made in vivo for a possibility of obtaining a cheaper, potent alternative drug for the treatment of E. coli and S. aureaus infections. Introduction
counties allover the world. It serves as a
In Nigeria, it is believed that garlic has
tuberculosis, hypertension, viral, fungal,
bacterial, worm infestation and different
even when available, it is very costly that
afford it. These problems call for a look
Nigerian Journal of Science, Technology and Environmental Education (NIJOSTEE), Vol. 3, No. 1, July 2010 ISSN: 0331-9873
phosphatase, coagulase tests were used to
confirm Staphylococcus aureus- and
motility, methyl red, Voges- proskauuer,
reach of everybody. Garlic is one of such
indole production, citrate utilization and
natural herbs that can serve the purpose.
This work is intended to authenticate the
identification of Escherichia coli. Both
Staphylococcus au reus and Escherichia
uses of garlic in curing various ailments
coli are pinkish on Macconkey agar.
tracts infections (UTIS). Hence this work
Escherichia coli. and Staphylococcus
quantities before blending. The grounded
aureus encountered in the study and to
compare this antibacterial activity with
water, seeped for 2 -3days before filtering
that of known urinary tracts antibiotics
paper discs used for the antibiogram of the isolates. The garlic extract yielded
Materials And Methods
universal containers containing a little
is equivalent to 1,000, 000mcg (s) serial
dilution of garlic extracts were made to
infection cases such as dysuria, frequent
each paper disc was 0.0lml of the garlic
garlic extracts, mixed gently, then poured
into a clean filter paper to drain excess
private hospitals and five private medical
Hospital and maternity, Queens Hospital,
counted and multiplied by 100 (N x 100),
Laboratory and C- fraternity Laboratory,
Minimum inhibition concentrations of the
collected from patients less than one year
to patients as old as 55years of age. Both male and female subjects were used.
subjects were screened for urinary tracts
bacterial and antibiotic controls treated as
isolate was 247 (38.9%) of Escherichia coli, 100 (15.7%) of Staphylococcus Nigerian Journal of Science, Technology and Environmental Education (NIJOSTEE), Vol. 3, No. 1, July 2010 ISSN: 0331-9873 aureus, 97 (15.3%), Klebsiella spp, 96(
Table 1: Susceptibility of the isolates to
Escherichia coil was shown by zone
zone of inhibition of 29mm while that of Staphylococcus aureus of inhibition was
sensitivity testing was carried out using
inhibition obtained, 20mm by nalidixic
acid on Escherichia cole (ATCC 25922),
20mm on Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC
susceptibility of the isolates to garlic extracts shown by their zone diameters
Table 11: MINIMUM INHIBITORY CONCENTRATION (MIC) OF GARLIC EXTRACTS ON THE ISOLATES
Mic of Escherichia coli was 30mcgMic of Staphylococcus aureus was 50mcg. Nigerian Journal of Science, Technology and Environmental Education (NIJOSTEE), Vol. 3, No. 1, July 2010 ISSN: 0331-9873
Figure 1 below shows the microbial agents encountered. FIG. 1. BAR CHART OF THE MICROBIAL AGENTS ENCOUNTERED (MICRO-ORGS.) SPP. Discussion
not affect the potency of the extract.
are potent against Escherichia coli and
inhibition on control bacteria Eschericha Staphylococcus aureus isolated from
coli (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 25923) as well as on the
isolated bacteria of the same species.
nalidixic acid and tetracycline gave wider
zones of inhibition than the latter.
resisted. This proves that garlic extract is
other researchers' interest. Their quest for
potent enough against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia co/i in vitro. The
diameter which qualifies it to be used as
anti bacterial agent against uropathogens
to them. Therefore, these workers sought
such as Staphylococcus aureus and
for an alternative anti bacterial agents
Escherichia coli. These findings agree
antibacterial agent of garlic (Carvallito et
that. Peterson and his colleagues worked
extracts of garlic. This work made use of
prevention of catheter associated urinary
Nigerian Journal of Science, Technology and Environmental Education (NIJOSTEE), Vol. 3, No. 1, July 2010 ISSN: 0331-9873
Larry, E. Davis; Jin-Kun, Shen; Van, Cai
uropathogenic bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus found to
Chemotherapy 54 (4): 651 - 653.
observed while using garlic extracts as anti bacterial agent in vitro testing so as
and host response in UTls. Sangyolka-diagakuzasshi, 20 (1): 45 – 60References
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Grau, S., Monterde, J., Drobnic, I.,
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