ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF Sansevieria zeylanica AGAINST UTI ISOLATES FROM STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, EDO STATE.

ABSTRACT

Sansevieria zeylenica also known as "bowstring hemp" or snake plant has been used to treat mild infection for many years in many part of the world especially in Africa, the phytochemical analysis of Sansevieria zeylenica demonstrated that the plant is rich in phenolic compounds, which may be responsible for its antibacterial activities against Uropathogens.The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of Sansevieria zeylenica leaf and rootextract against isolate of UTIamong students of University of Benin, Edo State. A total of 200 urine samples were randomlycollected from studentsattending University of Benin and examined and analyzed for the detection of Uropathogens using standard microbiologicalprocedure while the leaf and root of Sansevieria zeylenica extraction was carried out with methanol using the Soxhlet apparatus.Out of 200 participants studied, 23 (11.5%) had growth of four bacteria species associated with urinary tract infection; Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The activity ofboth extracts was greater at 200mg/ml against Escherichia coliand Proteus vulgarisisolates, but at 400mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureuswithMinimum Inhibitory Concentrations of the leaf extract as 8mg/ml, 4mg/ml, 8mg/ml, and >16mg/ml against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, and , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. The combination of leaf extract and Ampicillin increases theactivity of Ampicillin, producing a greater zone of inhibition (26mm) against Proteus vulgariscompared to Ampicillinalone (21mm) and leaf extract alone (16mm) giving rise to a synergistic effect. The result further strengthening earlier works on the effectiveness of the antibacterial capabilities of the sansevieria genus, and it therefore stands a chance for clinical trial as an alternative treatment option for urinary tract infection, though the molecular mechanism behind its antibacterial activity would require further investigation.