Antimicrobial Activity of the Crude Extracts of Hamelia patens on Some Selected Clinical Samples

Aims: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts of Hamelia patens on selected Clinical isolates and verify its use in Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of Microbial infections.

Study Design: This is an experimental study involving the extraction of crude substances from the leaves of Hamelia patens using Ethanol, Methanol, Petroleum ether and water; Preliminary Phytochemical screening, Susceptibility testing and determination of the Minimum Inhibitory/bactericidal Concentrations.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was carried out in the Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka between January and June 2014.

Methodology: The leaves of the plant were pulverized and active principles extracted. Preliminary Phytochemical analysis was done using standard methods. The antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans were evaluated using agar diffusion and broth dilution techniques in accordance with standard methods.

Results: The result of the preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Tannins, Glycosides, Saponins, Steroids, Phlobatannins, Terpenoids, Flavonoids and Phytosterols. The extracts showed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity ranging from 7 mm to 44 mm against the isolates used. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most susceptible bacterial isolates to all the extracts used while Candida albicans was more susceptible to the extracts than the Aspergillus niger among the fungal isolates. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranged from 12.5 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml among the test organisms, while the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC) ranged from 25 mg/ml to >100 mg/ml. Ethanolic extract was the most effective antimicrobial agent when compared to the other three extracts.

Conclusion: Hamelia patens has shown potent antimicrobial activity in vitro, thus could possibly serve as a source of antimicrobial for the treatment of infections caused by the organisms used in the study.