Antibacterial Activity of Acacia niloticaand Zizphus spina christiFruits Extracts on Aerobic Bacteria Associated with Throat Infection

Abstract

Some Sudanese herbalistis believed that the fruits of Acaia nilotica and Zizohus spina christican cure sore throat infection. The two plants have been tested in the present study to investigate their in vitropotential effect aganist the bacteria associated with sore throatinfection. A total of ٣٠throat swabs were collected randomly in Khartoum state from patients of different ages and sexes suffering from sore throat infection during the period March ٢٠٠٤to June ٢٠٠٤. The Gram positive bacteria isolated were Streptococcus pyogenes (٤٦,٧%), Streptococcus pneumoniae(٣٠%), Staphylococcus aureus(١٣,٣%), Staphylococcus hemolyticus(٦,٧%), Actinomycesis israelii(٦,٧%), Staphylococcus capitis(٣,٣%), Corynebacterium diphtheriae(٣,٣%) and Corynebacterium ulcerans(٣,٣%) . The Gram negative bacteria isolated was Haemophilus influenzae(٣٠%). Antibiotic sensitivity test were done for each isolate. The majority of the isolates were sensitive to Ampicillin (٩٧,٦٧%) and Penicillin (٩٣,٠٢%). However, some of them (٧٢,٠%) were resistant to Cloxacillin. Acaia nilotica andZizohus spina christ fruits were extracted by water then the extracts were testedfor their antibacterial activity by impregnated filter paper discs methods. Three differrent concentrations of the extracts were examined ١٠%, ٢٠%and ٣٠%. Water extract of Acacia niloticainhibited the growth of many bacteria isolated in this study. The most effective concentration was ٣٠% concentration as ٦٧,٤٤%of the isolates showed growth inhibtion at this concentration while ٥٨,١٣%at ٢٠%and ٥٣,٤٨%at ١٠%concentration. The most sensitive species to ٣٠%concenration of Acacia niloticawere Streptococcus pyogenesand Streptococcus pneumoniae. Water extract of Zizphus spina christishowed weak effect on the bacterial growth of the isolates in this study as ١٦,٢٧%of the isolates showed growth inhibtion at ٣٠%concentration, ١٣,٩٥%of the isolates showed growth inhibtion at ٢٠%concentration and ٤,٦٥%at the concentration ١٠%. The most senstive species to ٣٠%concentration of Zizphus spina christiwas Streptococcus pyogenes. In the present study Acacia niloticaextract was found to be effective aganist the bacteria associated with sorethroat infection while Zizphus spina christihad a weak effect. In this investigation, Acacia niloticawas found to be more effective than Chloramphenicol, Erythromycin and Cloxacillin for treatment of sore throat infection inKhartoum state and equally effective as Tetracycline but it was less effective than Ampicillin, Penicillin, Gentamycin and Streptomycin for treatment of sore throat infection in Khartoum state. While Zizphus spina christiwas found to be less effective than Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Gentamycin, Chloramphenicol, Cloxacillin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline and Penicillin for treatment of sore throat infection in Khartoum state