In vitro Antibacterial Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers for Treating Urinary Tract Infection in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Despite the presence of antibacterial agents for urinary tract infection treatment, most of the uropathogenic bacteria reveal multi-drug resistance. Health and economic loss due to these represent a rising burden worldwide which necessitates serious action at regional, national and global levels. Thus, alternative approaches to overcome this problem by using bioactive compounds from traditional medicinal plants are required. This study was designed to evaluate the in-vitro antibacterial activity of Punica granatum fruit peels, Nigella sativa seeds, and Echinops kebericho used in the traditional treatment of urinary tract infections.

Methods: An experimental study was employed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of methanol and ethanol crude extract of Punica granatum fruit peels, Nigella sativa seeds, and Echinops kebericho roots of six dilutions (25, 50, 100, 125, 250, and 500) mg/mL. Disc diffusion and macro broth dilution methods were used to determine antimicrobial activity test and minimum inhibitory concentration respectively against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, and S. aureus bacterias.

Results: Antibacterial activities of ethanol and methanol crude extract of Punica granatum fruit peels against E. coli ATCC25922, P. aeruginosa ATCC27853, S. aureus ATCC25923, K. pneumoniae UK5099 and P. mirabilis UK5999 had highest inhibition zones among tested plants. All tested bacteria were highly sensitive to Punica granatum extract. The second most active plant extract in inhibiting the growth of tested bacteria was Nigella sativa while Echinops kebericho showed the smallest efficacy against tested bacteria. The inhibition zone diameter produced by the methanol extract of each screened plant had higher inhibition zones than ethanol extract.

Conclusion: The crude extracts of Punica granatum fruit peels, Nigella sativa seeds, and Echinops kebericho roots have promising antibacterial activity against tested uropathogenic bacteria.