Antibacterial and Antidiarrhoeal Activities of Dichrostachys Cinerea Against Some Enteric Pathogens

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the aqueous, ethanol and petroleum ether extracts of Dichrostachyscinerea were tested on some bacteria associated with diarrhoea namely; Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhiand Shigelladysenteriae using agar well diffusion band broth dilution method. The extract inhibited the growth of almost all the test organisms though with different zones of inhibition. Although the petroleum ether extract was not effective against Shigelladysenteriae and Escherichia coli at all, but was effective against Salmonella Typhiexcept at 12.5 mg/ml and 6.25 mg/ml. Generally, ethanolic and aqueous extracts were the most effective solvents against all the test organisms. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the ethanol, aqueous and petroleum ether extract for E. coli were 12.5 mg/ml in all cases. For Salmonella Typhi,the MIC for the aqueous and petroleum ether extracts were 12.5 mg/ml respectively while it was 25 mg/ml for the ethanolic extract. In addition, the MIC for Shigelladysenteriae was 12.5 mg/ml for both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts while it was 25 mg/ml for the petroleum ether extract. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates, steroids and terpenes, cardiac glycosides and saponins. However, the plant does not contain anthraquinones. Antidiarrhoeal activity of the ethanolic plant extract demonstrated better activity of at 400 mg/ml than 200 mg/ml which is indicative of the fact that the activity of the plant is dose dependent. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Dichrostachyscinerea has appreciable antibacterial and antidiarrhoeal activities.