ABSTRACT
Cyperus esculentus, commonly known as Tiger nut, goes by various aliases such as: nut grass, earth or ground almond, yellow nut, and edible galingale. It is widely consumed as a nutritious food by both humans and animals in regions spanning Africa, Europe, and America. In Nigeria, Tiger nut is employed for its potential medicinal and health benefits, including aiding men with erectile dysfunction, increasing sperm count, enhancing libido, assisting diabetic patients in regulating blood sugar levels, and exhibiting antimicrobial properties against certain microorganisms.This study was aimed at the antibacterial properties of Tiger nut against Escherichia. coli and Klebsiella, employing established methodologies. Tiger nut samples were procured from Uselu Market in Egor Local Government area, Benin City, Edo State, and underwent preparation procedures involving washing, air-drying, grinding, and subsequent storage for phytochemical analysis and antibacterial testing. Phytochemical analysis was conducted using recognized procedures. The bacterial strains of E. coli and Klebsiella were sourced from the microbiology laboratory at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and identified through conventional cultural, morphological, and biochemical assays. The antibacterial assessment employed the disc diffusion method.The results of this study revealed the presence of hexane as a phytochemical constituent in Tiger nut, although tannin was not detected. Notably, the antibacterial testing indicated that Escherichia. coli and Klebsiella exhibited resistance to the hexane extract of Tiger nut across various concentrations. In contrast, Escherichia. coli and Klebsiella demonstrated sensitivity to commercially available antibiotics. Consequently, this study affirms that Tiger nut extract does not possess antibacterial activity against E. coli and Klebsiella spp.
