Antibacterial Effects of Cissus welwitschii and Triumfetta welwitschii Extracts against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus.

Journal: International journal of bacteriology
Published Date:

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has increased sharply, while the pace for the development of new antimicrobials has slowed down. Plants provide an alternative source for new drugs. This study aimed to screen extracts from Cissus welwitschii and Triumfetta welwitschii for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus. The tests conducted included a susceptibility determination test, analysis of the effect of T. welwitschii on cell wall integrity, and transport across the membrane. It was found that the T. welwitschii methanol extracts were more effective than the water extracts and had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration at 0.125 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively, against E. coli and B. cereus. The C. welwitschii extract caused the most drug accumulation in E. coli. In B. cereus, no significant drug accumulation was observed. Nucleic acid leakage in B. cereus and E. coli and protein leakage in E. coli were observed after exposure to the T. welwitschii extract. The extracts from T. welwitschii had greater antibacterial activity than the extracts from C. welwitschii. T. welwitschii may be a potential source of lead compounds for that could be developed into antibacterial agents.

Authors

  • Batanai Moyo
    Biomolecular Interactions Analyses Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
  • Stanley Mukanganyama
    Department of Therapeutics, Natural Products Unit, Wilkins Hospital Block C, Cnr J. Tongogara and R. Tangwena, The African Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology (AiBST), Harare, Zimbabwe.

Keywords

No keywords available for this article.