Bacteriological evaluation and antimicrobial sensitivity test of common herbal concoctions in Ogbomoso metropolis

Abstract

Ola, I.O, Omomowo, I.O, Aina, D.A, Majolagbe, N.Oand Oladipo, E.K

Herbal concoctions are extracts from plants such as its bark, leaves, stems, roots, seeds and flowers. Plant ingredients were obtained from Oja-igbo market in Ogbomoso, Oyo State and were prepared in the form of concoctions (soup or drink made usually from ingredients after boiling) or infusions (soaking the plant material and allowing it to stand for varying lengths of time) and assessed for their microbial load and type of microorganisms present and also for the degree of resistance and sensitivity to selected antibiotics .The following bacteria were isolated from the herbal concoctions: Micrococcus sendentarius, Corynebacterium renale, Clostridium tertium, and Clostridium butyricum. Antimicrobial susceptibility screening of the isolated bacteria indicated multiple resistance to most commonly used antibiotics such as Ofloxacin (75%), Erythromycin (100%), Ciprofloxacin (100%), Clindamycin (100%), Gentamycin (75%), Cephalexin (100%), Cotrimoxazole (100%), Cloxacillin (100%), Ceftriaxone (100%) and Augmentin (100%). Only Ofloxacin and Gentamycin had (25%) sensitivity rate. The microbial quality of herbal concoctions should be of great importance to the community in order to reduce harm to the consumers and spread of resistance strains.