ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF DATURA ON PATHOGENIC STRAINS OF Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this work was to determine the antibacterial and antifungal activities of ethanolic leaf extract of Datura stramonium on selected microorganisms, and to evaluate its phytochemical properties. The plant samples (leaves) were air-dried and macerated with ethanol in the laboratory for analysis. The pathogenic isolates used were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. 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 little 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 which was calculated and measured were all higher than 0.2 which indicates high risk source of contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the highest (8.0) and Candida albicans with an antifungal drug Genevin Griseofulvin as the lowest (0.0). The demonstration of the antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Datura stramonium in this work does not provide 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 plant is more psychotropic than antimicrobial.