Antibacterial Activity of Some Herbal Extracts for the Treatment of Typhoid Fever Sold in Okitipupa Town, Ondo State, Nigeria

The study investigated and compared the antimicrobial potency of aqueous (cold and hot) and ethanolic extracts of six plant parts used as herbal mixture against clinical isolate of Salmonella typhi in Okitipupa town. Extracts from six plant parts used as herbal mixture were tested for antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi isolated from patients suffering from typhoid fever. The antibacterial activities of each of the extracts (ethanolic, cold, and hot waters) were determined using agar diffusion method, and the activities produced zone of inhibition ranging from 20 mm-34 mm. Ethanolic extract was found to be more potent, being capable of exerting significant inhibitory activity on the test organism investigated with an inhibition zone of 34 mm, followed by the cold-water extract (28 mm), while hot water extract gave the least (20 mm). The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, glucosinolates, and triterpenes in the extracts but total absence of proteins. The study confirms the medicinal value of herbal mixtures and justifies the claim of its local use in health remedies for typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi. There is the need, therefore, to develop effective combinations of antimicrobial agents in purified form from higher plants and their parts for clinical trials.