Natural product (Abutilon hirtum extracts) in treating environment - related infections (Salmonellosis and Typhoid fever)

Salmonella is considered a serious public health burden especially in areas of low economic status and high temperature. The continuous emergence of some Salmonella species to even third generation antibiotics is a threat to health care delivery. Thus, this study aimed at screening multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella isolates and subjecting them to Abutilon hirtum extract and fraction as a means of possible discovery of new antimicrobial of plant nature in treatment of environment related infections. Ten serotyped clinical Salmonella isolates were obtained from Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Nigeria. The plant fractions were obtained by open column chromatography. Phytochemical screening was done using Standard Qualitative method. The bioassay of the crude and fraction extracts (AF9) against MDR Salmonella isolates was by Well Agar diffusion and broth micro dilution method respectively. All Salmonella isolates exhibited resistance against more than 3 antimicrobials (MDR). However, all the isolates (100%) were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and 60% sensitive to ceftriaxone but showed 100% resistance against amoxicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline and amoxicillin +clavulanic acid. The A.hirtum extract showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoides, tannins, saponins, cardial glycosides, terpenes and steroids, phenol and resins. 80% of the isolates were susceptible to the crude extract at concentration of 200mg/ml but susceptibility decreased as concentration decreased. The MIC and MBC of the plant fraction (AF9) against the isolates ranged from 150µg/ml–300µg/ml and 300µg/ml-600µg/ml respectively. This plant may probably be a new antimicrobial for treating MDR Salmonella infections.