Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Mirabilis jalapa andDichrotachys cinerea against biofilm and Extended Spectrum of Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). M. jalapa and D. cinerea are widespread medicinal plants traditionally used to treat infectious diseases. Aqueous, acetone and ethanol extracts of leaves of M. jalapa and D. cinerea were tested for antimicrobial activity invitro by the agar well diffusion method. Ethanol extract of M. jalapaleaves exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested biofilm producing UPEC strains, whereas it inhibited only the ESBL producing UPEC strains 42 and 96. Similarly, the acetone extract of M. jalapa leaves inhibited the growth of biofilm producing UPEC strains 1, 17 and 82, whereas it inhibited only the ESBL producing UPEC strains 42 and 96. Ethanol extract of D. cinerea leaves exhibited inhibitory activity against all tested biofilm producing UPEC strains, whereas it inhibited only the ESBL producing UPEC strain 87. Similarly, the acetone extract inhibited only the growth of biofilm producing UPEC strain 82, whereas it inhibited the growth of ESBL producing UPEC strains 87 and 96. The aqueous extracts of M. jalapa and D. cinerea leaves failed to show any inhibitory effect against both biofilm and ESBL producing UPEC strains. These antimicrobial properties seem to be related to the presence of alkaloids, tri-terpenoids and tannin contents in M. jalapa and D. cinerea.  The present study shows that crude extracts of M. jalapa and D. cinerea especially the acetone and ethanol extracts exhibited significant activity against biofilm and ESBL producing Uropathogenic E. coli strains.

Key words: Biofilm, ESBL, Escherichia coli, M. Jalapa, D. cinerea, antimicrobial activity.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: UTI’s, Urinary tract infections; UPEC, uropathogenic Escherichia coli.