Aframomum melegueta [Roscoe] K. Schum) Ethanolic Seed Extract against Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Isolates from Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this research work is to compare the activity of medicinal plant(Aframomum melegueta) and conventional antibiotic against Asymptomatic Bacteriuria isolates from pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in a major primary health center in Akoko, south ,Ondo state Nigeria. The target Asymptomatic Bacteriuria isolates which is inherent in pregnant women with no observable features.  The rate of growth/ death of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Isolates were x-rayed. Bacteria were isolated from Urine of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Public health care Akungba Akoko, Ondo state, Nigeria and were identified using conventional method. The antibiotic susceptibility test and antimicrobial screening of ethanol seed extract of Aframomum melegueta were determined using disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods respectively. The eleven(11) bacteria identified were Klebsiella pneumoniae (three,3), Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis(Two,2),Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae (Two,2), Escherichia coli (three,3), Bacillus cereus, Serratia mercesiens, Enterobacter aerogens. E. coli and klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common isolates. The second most common isotales was Enterobacter cloacae.. Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus mirabilis were resistant to Ampicillin, Ceporex, Nalixadic acid and Septrin. E. coli, the most common isolate was sensitive to Gentamycin and most of the antibiotics used. The antimicrobial screening of ethanol seed extract of Aframomum melegueta shows zones of inhibition with diameter ranging from 1-25mm. Secondary metabolite screening indicates the presence of flavonoid, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides. Ultraviolet spectrophotometer was also used to determine the Growth dynamic /Death rate of the isolates, the addition of antibiotics to the organism at the 48th hour speed up the death rate of the isolates, the addition of ethanol seed extract at the 48th hour also speed up the death rate of the isolates from the urine samples. The results of this study validate the use of Aframomum melegueta seed in the traditional treatment of Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women.