Antimicrobial Evaluation of Phyllanthus amarus Leaf Extracts Against Beta-Lactamase Resistance Escherichia coli isolated from Eidolon helvum

Background and Objective: Prophylactic use of medicinal plants in the treatment of human and animal infections and diseases has greatly improved over the years and continuously been explored. The study was conducted to assess the antimicrobial activity of Phyllanthus amarus against Escherichia coli isolated from Eidolon helvum (Straw Coloured Fruit Bat). Materials and Methods: A total of seventeen Escherichia coli isolates were grown on eosin methylene blue agar and MacConkey agar. Biochemical tests were carried out and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion technique. Results: The results were interpreted according Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The aqueous and ethanol plant extracts of dry Phyllanthus amarus leaves were retrieved in ratio 3:1 of plant to water and plant to ethanol. The highest zones of inhibition recorded were 16 mm for aqueous extract and 14 mm for ethanol extract at concentration of 25 mg mL‾1. Bioactive compounds found in both aqueous and ethanol extracts of Phyllanthus amarus include alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones and glycosides. Tannins were found in the aqueous extract only while terpenoids were found in the ethanol extracts only. Furthermore, the GC-MS analysis of the plant extract revealed that the aqueous and ethanol extracts are rich in phytochemicals which has been reported to have antioxidant and other biological activities. Conclusion: It was concluded that Phyllanthus amarus can be considered a good alternative to antibiotics in the case of infections and diseases caused by multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli from straw coloured fruit bats when taken in the appropriate dosage.