Vol. 10, Issue 5 (2021)

Author(s):
Dr. Deepa Jolly, Dr. B Sunil, Dr. C Latha, Dr. KM Vrinda, Dr. M Mini and Dr. TV Aravindakshan

Abstract:
Extensive and imprudent use of antibiotics has resulted in the alternate increased application of phytoextracts as antimicrobials. One of the grave public health challenges is the emergence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens on a global scale. This study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of crude aqueous cold leaf extract of Eichhornia crassipes (E. crassipes) for it’s antibacterial effect on the Gram-negative microaerophilic foodborne pathogen, Campylobacter jejuni. Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), an aquatic plant of the family Pontederiaceae, has traditionally been used worldwide for phytoremediation of polluted water, as green manure/compost, for biogas production, to suppress weeds and even for preparation of crude medicines. The yield of the crude aqueous extract, phytochemical (secondary metabolites) screening of the aqueous extract, and in vitro antibacterial activities against C. jejuni NCTC 11168 was assessed. Cold leaf extracts from water hyacinth were tested for the presence of various active chemical constituents viz., steroids, alkaloids, flavanoids, triterpenes, saponins and tannins. The minimum inhibitory concentration using agar well diffusion method which was 25 mg/mL, was determined for evaluating the antimicrobial activity of the extract using Mueller Hinton Agar plates with 5 per cent defibrinated sheep blood. The antibacterial activities were expressed as mean diameters (mm) of inhibition zones and categorized as >15 mm, 10–15 mm, and <10 mm for strong, moderate, and weak, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed that extracts of the leaves were positive for steroids, alkaloids, tritermines, phenol, saponins, glycosides and flavanoids. It can be concluded that the aqueous leaf extract of E. crassipes could be utilised as a potential source of natural antibacterial agent and for the development of therapeutic antibiotics against many Gram negative organisms like Campylobacter.