Mshelia M.B.*, G.O. Adeshina, J.A. Onaolapo, A.M. Musa, E.H. Mshelia, M.S. Salihu, D.L. Muammar, A.A. Sadam, G. Dauda and Rabiu H
Introduction: Enterobacteriaceae is a family of gram negative bacteria often associated with the gut. They were found to be responsible for a large proportion of serious and life-threatening infections due to the increasing resistance to available antibiotics. In many developing countries different parts of Morinda lucida has been used as herbal medicine. The aim of this study was to isolate compound(s) from the most active fraction of M. lucida leaves and to test the activity against some multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae.
Methods: M. lucida leaves were freshly obtained, shade-dried, grinded and extracted with methanol. This was further fractionated using column chromatography. The different fractions obtained were tested for antibacterial activity against some multidrug resistant members of Enterobacteriaceae. Compound was isolated and elucidated from the most active fraction. This was also tested for antibacterial activity.
Results: The compounds isolated from the M. lucida most active fraction are α and β-amyrin mixture. The mixture of α and β-amyrin (0.093 μg/ml) was active against Klebsiella, Pragia, Serratia, Enterobacter, Providencia species and E. coli (zones of inhibition ranged from 15-18 mm).
Conclusion: Implication of the findings in this study presents α and β-amyrin from M. lucida as a potential agent for the treatment of some infectious diseases that cannot be treated with commonly used antibiotics. Therefore, this study justifies the use of M. lucida in traditional medicine practices and especially as alternative medicine.
