Antibacterial Activity of Traditionally Used Plants against the Resistant Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Background: It is well known that the herbs have therapeutic efficacy against infectious agents including bacterial ones. In the current study, the antibacterial activities of methanolic extracts of nine herbs were evaluated against the resistant enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) using disc diffusion method. Methods: Isolation and identification of E. coil and EPEC was done by standard bacteriological methods and PCR assays. Sensitivity of the EPEC isolates to antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion method. The methanolic extracts of the herbs were prepared and growth inhibition test was done by disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined by agar microdilution method. Result: Out of 150 faecal samples, a total of 135 E. coli isolates were isolated and among them, a total of 36 isolates were identified as EPEC. EPEC isolates showed resistance to multiple antibiotics. The maximum mean inhibition zone of antibacterial effect against the resistant clinical isolates of EPEC was demonstrated by the methanolic extract of Holarrhaena antidysenterica (19.16 +/- 0.76 mm) followed by Acacia nilotica (18.00 +/- 1.00 mm) and Punica granatum (16.67 +/- 1.53 mm). This study validates that the said plants can be used as therapy against colibacillosis in neonatal goat kids.