ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF DATURA ON PATHOGENIC STRAINS OF Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris

ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to determine the antibacterial effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Datura on selected susceptible bacterial species. The plant samples (leaves) were air-dried and macerated with ethanol in the laboratory for analysis. The bacterial isolates used were Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, and Klebsiella pneumonia. Preliminary phytochemical analyses reveal that the ethanolic leaf extract of Datura stramonium contained saponins, carbohydrates, and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity of the plant showed that the test organisms were resistant to the ethanolic leaf extract. The extract exerted no inhibitory effect on the test organisms at 100μg/ml, 50μg/ml, 25μg/ml, and 12.5μg/ml. Antibiotics susceptibility test and Multiple Antibiotic Resistance index values that were calculated and measured were all higher than 0.2 which indicates a high-risk source of contamination with Proteus vulgaris as the highest (1.0) and Klebsiella pneumonia as the lowest (0.0). The demonstration of the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract of Datura stramonium in this work does not provide a scientific basis for its use as a local health remedy although at high concentrations and the use of other solvents from past literature has proven to be effective against certain bacterial organisms but its toxicity at high concentrations should be noted and considered. It is however safe to say that this variety of plants is more psychotropic than antimicrobial.