Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of the Anti-Salmonella Activity of Leaf Extracts of Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F. (Cucurbitaceae) on Salmonella typhii Cell Culture
VL Tamanji
Department of Pharmacognosy, Pan African Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
EAF Tembe
Department of Pharmacotoxicology and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
GA Mbong
Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
H Bayaga
Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
BN Njinkio
Department of Pharmacotoxicology and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
DJ Fonmboh
Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Bioresource Technology in the College of Technology, University of Bamenda, Cameroon.
MV Tchadji
Department of Pharmacotoxicology and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
JO Moody
Department of Pharmacognosy, Pan African Institute of Life and Earth Sciences (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
HK Gonsu
Department of Microbiology, Heamatology, Parasitology and infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
CN Fokunang *
Department of Pharmacotoxicology and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
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.
Keywords: Phytochemical characterization, antisalmonella, Telfairia occidentalis, cucurbitaceae, salmonella typhi