Abstract

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The antimicrobial properties of indigenous medicinal plants Azadirachta indica (Neem seeds), Vernonia amygdalina Linn (Bitter leaves), Ocimum gratissimumlinn (Scent leaves), Moringa oleifera seeds, Zingiber offtcinale(G\nger), Allium sativum (Garlic), Pterocapus santalinoides (Nturukpa) against Escherichia coli 0157:H7 isolated from cattle faeces using Cefixime-Pottasium Tellurite Sorbitol McConkey (CT-SMAC) Agar supplemented with 4 methyl umbelliferyl D-glucuronide (MUG) was investigated. The colourless white colonies on the selective medium were subjected to several biochemical tests and a confirmatory test using immunological latex reagent 0157:H7 antiserum to detect agglutination. Escherichia coli 0157:H7 isolates were subjected to the medicinal plants extracts using well-in-agar method. The susceptibility of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 isolates to the plants extracts revealed that Escherichia coli 0157:H7 were susceptible to Allium sativum clove (methanolic extract), Moringa oleifera seed (ethanolic extract), Vernonia amygdalina leaf (ethanolic extract) and Pterocarpus santalinoides leaf (Ethanolic extract) in varying degrees and their mean zones of inhibition were 9.8 ± 0.05mm, 8.93 *O.O.3mn.7.35 ± OO(Hmmand 6.0 ± 0.04mm respectively. Susceptibility of the isolates to the extracts were in the order Allium sativum>Moringa oleifera> Vernonia amygdalina>Pterocarpus santalinoides. Ethanol and methanol are the best solvents for the extraction of active constitutents of the plants used in the study. The demonstration of antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of A. sativum, P. santalinoides, V. amygdalina and M. oleifera extracts on Escherichia coli 0157:H7is an indication that these plants have antimicrobial properties and therefore are potential sources for drugs with better modes of action

Keywords: Plant extracts, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Antimicrobial -susceptibility test, cattle feaces, CT-SMAC