In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Methanolic Extract of Cymbopogon schoenanthus against Bacteria Isolated from Urinary Tract Infected Patients in Khartoum

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been widely used in folk medicine. They are considered today as an interesting source of new drug due to their bioactive components. The genus, Cymbopogon schenanthus (Poaceae), is an aromatic plant seems important source of several bioactive compound used in traditional medicine . This was descriptive and cross sectional study conducted during the period from June to October 2018, to determine the antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon shoenanthus methanolic extract against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria isolated from urinary tract infection. A total of 70 urine samples were collected from patients with Urinary tract infection symptoms . These specimens were inoculated onto Cystine Lactose Electrolyte Deficiency (CLED) media . The significant growth was observed and identified using conventional microbiological methods. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using standard disk diffusion method. Then inhibitory effects of methanolic extracts of Cymbopogon schoenanthus were evaluated against fifty isolates of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and two reference strains (E.coli ATCC 25922 and S.aureus ATCC 25923) using the agar well diffusion and dilution methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was assayed using the broth tube dilution test method. Out 70 urine samples collected only (68) samples (97%) revealed positive bacterial growth in Cystine Lactose Electrolyte Deficiency (CLED) media . The identified species were E.coli 20 (29.4%), ,K.pneumonia 8 ( 11.7%) , S.aureus 10 (14.6%) , P.mirabilis 14 (20%) , Enterobacter spp 9 (13%) , and Ps. Aeruoginosa (10%) . The antibiotic susceptibility testing results showed that Cotrimoxazole had higher resistant rates (64.7% )followed by Ceftazidime (42.6%) , nitroforuntoin (42.5%) , Ciprofloxacin (23.5%) , Gentamycin( 22.1%) and Imipenem (5.3 %) . Regarding multidrug resistant the results showed 50(73.5%) of isolated bacteria were multidrug resistance strains, out of them: (26%) were E.coli higher resistant rate followed by (22%) P.mirabilis. Cymbopogon schoenanthus methanolic extract was effective against different isolates and reference strains, the most effective concentration is 100% followed 50% with equal activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria . Minimum inhibitory concentration of Cymbopogon schoenanthus methanolic extract for tested bacteria was ranged from 12.5-1.56% ( w/v) . The results of the present study suggest a scientifically traditional use of Cymbopogon schoenanthus as an antibacterial agent. Future studies are needed to investigate and explore its application in the environmental and medical fields. Also carry out more pharmacological and toxicological studies to assess their therapeutic efficiency and potential for commercial utilizations .