Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of the Anti-Salmonella Activity of Leaf Extracts of Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F. (Cucurbitaceae) on Salmonella typhii Cell Culture

Abstract

Typhoid fever, a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi whose treatment is by use of antibiotics. And the use of these antibiotics associated with drug resistance, high cost of medication and less accessibility to rural populations remains an issue of concern. The aim of this research was to indentify bioactive metabolites of the leaf of T. occidentalis and determine the anti-salmonella typhi activity. The antibacterial activity of the leaf extracts (aqueous maceration, decoction, infusion and ethanol maceration) of Telfairia occidentalis (Fluted pumpkin or gourd) on Salmonella typhi, was determined using the agar well diffusion technique to investigate its potential use as anti-bacterial agent. The phyto-chemical constituents, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the leaf was analyzed. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics and coumarin with the absence of phlobatanins and oxalates. The decoction of the leaves demonstrated the highest activity against S. typhi (15+/-2.7mm) at 1000mg/ml.  MIC for aqueous maceration, infusion, and decoction was recorded at 62.5mg/ml and that of the ethanol maceration was at 15.625mg/ml. Due to the extraordinarily high concentration of extract needed to produce anti-salmonella activity, the study's findings imply that the leaf extract has negligible activity against Salmonella.