Antimicrobial effect of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves on multi antibiotic resistant bacterial isolated from poultry droppings

The widespread use of antibiotics as prophylactics and therapeutic agents has increased the risk of emergence and spread of resistant bacteria leading to prolonged and expensive treatment and greater risk of death in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effect of the methanol extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves on multi antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from poultry droppings. Multi antibiotic resistant bacterial isolates from poultry dropping already identified from previous research were used. The plant extract was obtained by soxhlet extraction process, susceptibility test was caried out using well in agar diffusion method. The percentage yield of the plant extract using soxhlet extraction process with methanol was 22.84%. The qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as tannins, flavonoids, cardenolide, steroids, terpenoids, anthraquinone, alkaloids, fixed oil and carbohydrate. The extract showed competitive zones of inhibition on Escherichia fergusonii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Enterobacter clocae, Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Salmonella typhimerium. Enterobacter clocae had the highest zone of inhibition of 17mm at a concentration of 100mg/ml, 10mm at 80mg/ml and 8mm at 50 mg/ml. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia had the lowest zone of inhibition of 10mm at 100mg/ml, 8mm at 80mg/l and 7mm at 50mg/ml. These zones of inhibitions show the antimicrobial potency of Jatropha tajorensis on antibiotic resistant bacteria. Compared with synthetic antibiotics or inorganic chemicals, this plant-derived extract is natural, less toxic, typically residue free with high rate of metabolism. The result of this study gives credence to claims of the medicinal and nutritional properties of Jatropha tanjorensis.