A low-cost technology for drinking water purification involving plant extracts that are harmful to potentially pathogenic bacteria was developed. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of different parts of the Moringa oleifera vegetable tree were examined for their antibacterial and coagulation properties. The extracts from buds and shoots showed more antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus var. mycoides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Shigella flexneri at 378C than those obtained from leaves and seeds. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations were observed for buds and shoots, and not for seeds and leaves. The seeds were associated with higher coagulation activity in comparison with other parts of the plant and alum. These results suggest that bud and seed extracts can be used for water treatment, avoiding the risk of contamination by water-borne pathogens and promoting an indigenous solution to disease control and environmental management.
Aim: To assess the antimicrobial activity and genotoxicity of three medicinal plants used by Saudi Arabian people as traditional medicine against Mycoplasma hominis. Methodology: Different concentrations of Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Vachellia nilotica (acacia), and Thyme vulgaris (thyme) extracts were used as antimicrobial agents against M. hominis, and their lethal effects on Mycoplasma genome DNA were analyzed using repetitive element PCR(Rep-PCR). Results: The aqueous extracts of clove and Acacia at 3.125 mg ml-1 were found to be active antimicrobials against three tested Mycoplasm. Thyme extract exhibited antimicrobial activity at 12.5 mg ml-1. Moreover, this extract revealed potent lethal activities as growth turbidity decreased with increasing concentration or exposure time as compared to untreated Mycoplasma. The results of Rep-PCR clearly indicate that changes occured in the number of genetic bands in treated Mycoplasma at certain concentrations as compared to untreated Mycoplasma. Interpretation: These results indicate the possibility of using these extracts as a source of antibacterial compounds for treating infections caused by Mycoplasma. Key words: Antimicrobial activity, Genotoxicity, Mycoplasma hominis, Medicinal plants, S. aromaticum
An attempt was made to control waterborne pathogens by using medicinal plant extracts. One hundred and twenty-six water samples from filtration plants, tube wells, and water supplies were collected and analyzed for total and faecal Coliform bacteria as well as for total viable count. Results showed that waterborne pathogens were numerous and significantly higher than the World Health Organization's recommended guidelines. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of different parts of Colebrookia oppositifolia (Labiateae) were examined for antibacterial activities in vitro by an agar diffusion method. Antibacterial activity of leaves, shoots, and roots of Colebrookia oppositifolia was assessed against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria that were isolated and identified from water samples by the API 20E method. Extract of roots showed more antibacterial activities against Staph. aureus and B. cereus var. mycoides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Shigella flexneri at 37 • C, than extracts from leaves and shoots. The lowest MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) were observed in roots as compared to shoots and leaves. These results suggest that there is an urgent need for improvement in existing water quality treatment. Secondly, the fruit extract can be practical for protection and to avoid risk of contamination by waterborne pathogens and to promote indigenous solutions for disease-control and environmental management.
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