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ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antibacterial properties of geophagic clay against standard test organisms (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus). Antimicrobial susceptibility tests of the clay lysate were carried out using agar well diffusion method. The clay lysate was serially diluted using the following double serial dilution patterns; 100mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 25mg/ml and 12.5mg/ml. The control drugs used were commercially available antibiotics including; cefixime (400mg), azithromycin (500mg), ciprofloxacin (500mg) and levofloxacin (500mg). Each of the diluted clay lysate (0.1 ml) was pipetted onto the wells. The drug tablets were dissolved in sterile distilled water and pipetted into wells against the standard test organisms as a control. The results of the antibacterial activity of geophagic clay against the selected bacteria showed that Escherichia coli was resistant to the extract at all concentrations. Staphylococcus aureus was resistant to all concentrations of the extract except 12.5mg/ml. Bacillus cereus was resistant to the extract at 100mg/ml and 50mg/ml only and Salmonella entericawas not resistant to the extract at any concentration. The Minimum inhibitory concentration was 25mg/ml against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and 50mg/ml against Bacillus cereus. The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration was 25mg/ml against Escherichia coli and 50mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. The results also showed that Escherichia coli was sensitive to cefixime, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin; resistant to azithromycin. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to cefixime, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin; resistant to azithromycin. Bacillus cereus was sensitive to cefixime, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin; intermediate to azithromycin. Geophagic clay had antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus at different concentrations. Therefore the use of geophagic clay can be recommended for the treatment of some cases of diarrhea in the absence of commercially available antibiotics.
