ABSTRACT
The results of this research showed that Garcinia Kolanut possess
some degree of inhibitory effects against the selected bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and salmonella
sp. There was a corresponding increase in the zones of Inhibition
of Staph.
Aureus, E. Coli and Salmonella sp. as
the strength of 1ml ethanol suspension of Garcinia
Kolanut per disc increases. Salmonella sp. gave highest zones of
inhibition that ranged from 0.5mm – 5.5mm, followed by staphylococcus aureus,
ranged between 0.5mm – 5.2mm, the least being the E-coli ranged from 0.3mm –
3.6mm. There was an increase in the
zones of inhibition of the three selected bacteria, with an increase in the
weight of suspension. The zones of inhibition for staphylococcus aureus ranged from 0.1mm – 3.5mm, E.Coli ranged from 0.2mm (at 300µg) to
2.0mm while the salmonella sp. ranged 0.2mm – 3.8mm. the minimal
zone of inhibition 200µg Garcinia Kolanut/disc
in 1ml aqueous Garcinia Kolanut suspension. Garcinia Kolanut (bitter
kola) seed is believed to be effective in treating throat infections and cough,
moreover, bitter kola has also been indentified to have strong antibiotics
activities and found to be very effective against disease causing
micro-organisms such as E.Coli, Staph.
Aureus, Salmonella Sp., Streptococcus Spp, Vibrio Cholera and Gonnorrhea.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the
Study
The Nigeria climate favours a great array of plant
species many of which have varied medicinal and anti-microbial potential
(Aclebisi, A.A. 1997 et al. It is estimated that there are over 65,000 species
of flowering plants that have medicinal properties (Akanmu et al 2008).
In African, medicinal plant constitute a rich but
still largely untapped pool of natural products. Many countries from the
developing world are still dependent on medicinal plant for treating the sick
among them. Globally the last two decades has witnessed an unprecedented
increase of drug resistance by pathogenic microorganisms as well as the
appearance of undesirable side effect of certain antibiotics (Akunyilli, AW,
Houghton D.J and Romana, 1991). Other limitations of modern chemotherapeutic
drugs are their high cost and non-availability, especially in rural areas. As a
consequence, it is necessary to search for new organic molecules with
antimicrobial activity, which in addition could be potential sources for
starting materials for the semi-synthesis of new drugs (Anegbeh, P. O. et al 2006). Traditional medical
practice is an important part of health care delivery system in most part of
the developing world (Braide et al1989)
and is a source of primary healthcare to 80% of the world’s population (Ebana,
R.U. et al1991). Traditional medical
knowledge of medicinal pand and their use by indigenous culture are not only
useful for conservation of cultural traditions and biodiversity but also for
community healthcare and drug development now and in the future (Eyog-matig O et al2007). Traditional herbalist in
Nigeria uses a variety of herbal preparation to treat different kinds of
ailments such as gonorrhoea, sore throat and skin infections like Eczema. This
has been the case ever before the introduction of antibiotics and other modern
drugs into Africa (Faleyimu O.I et al 2008).
Accordingly to the world health organisation (WHO),
up to 80% of the population in Africa depends on traditional herbal medicine
for primary health care, accounting for around 20% of the overall drug market
(Iwu, M.M 1993). A number of plants that have medicinal and antimicrobial
properties in Nigeria have been identified and documented (Iwu, M. W et al 1999). Worldwide increase in
resistance to antibiotics has prompted scientists and researchers to seek for
other possible potential antimicrobial (Iwu, M.M. et al 1990). Due to this search, plants have been seen as a good
source of antimicrobial agents. Some of the active ingredients of the extracts
of some plants have been isolated, tested and documented (Agyili, J, et al 2006).
The clinical efficacy of many existing antibiotics
is being threatened by the emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens. The
increasing failure of hemotherapeutic and antibiotic resistance exhibited by
pathogenic microbial agents has led to the screening of several medicinal
plants for their potential antimicrobial activity (Eyog-matig, O. et al 2007). In Africa, the tremendous
diversity of plants partly explains the popularity of traditional medicine and
the wide variety of medicinal recipes utilized by traditional healers. In a
situation where at least 855 of African population in both urban and rural
areas, regardless of their socio cultural background, resort to traditional
medicine to treat their sick and alleviate suffering, there is an urgent need
to undertake a scientific inventory of the available medicinal plants used by
traditional heaters – plant have been major sources of medicine and plant
secondary metabolites have been attributed for most plants therapeutic
activities (Akerele, O.S. et al 2007).
1.2 Problems of the Study
Barriers to cultivation: despite its socio-economic
importance of Garcinia Kola, the cultivation of the species is very much
limited. Factors that have discouraged farmers from growing Garcinia kola
include difficulties encountered in the germination which reduces the
availability of seedlings in the nurseries for possible plantation
establishment. Most of the productive trees are those which were left in the wild
when farm plots were cut out of the forest (Adebisi, 2004) Researchers have
studied the germination problems of G. Kola seeds and suggested various means
of breaking its dormancy (Gyimah, 2007, Anegbeh et al, 2006, Kanmegne and
Ndoumou, 2007, Oboho and Urughu, 2010, Oboho and Ogana, 2011). But there is
still a great need to investigate more simple and practical because methods
that could be easily adopted by the farmers with low technological input. G.
Kola seeds has both seeds coats dormancy and physiological dormancy probably
imposed by the chemicals in the seed (Oboho and Urughu, 2010) seed coat
dormancy of Garcinia Kola can be reduced by soaking in water for 72 hours
(Yakubu et al 2014). The removal of
the seed air tight transparent polythene bag and sprinkling of water on the
seeds when needed for constant moisture will give early germination period of 2
weeks (Yakubu et al, 2014)
1.3 Objectives of the
Study
To determine antimicrobial effects of Garcinia Kola
nut on isolated micro-organisms. To make appropriate recommendations for
further development and effective application of Garcinia kola nut. It also
investigates the bioactive and photochemical potentials of the extracts from
the plant seeds on selected pathogenic micro-organisms etc.
1.4 Justification of
the Study
Garcinia Kola is traditionally used by African
medicaments who believe that it has purgative ant parasitic and antimicrobial
properties (Maurice Iwu et al, 1999). The seeds are used for bronchitis, throat
infections, colic, head or chest colds and cough. It is also used for liver
disorders and as a chewing stick (Maurice Iwu, et al, 1999).
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