Combinations of Alchornea cordifolia, Cassytha fliformisand Pterocarpus santalinoides in diarrhoegenic bacterial infections

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines the rationale, if any, behind combining the extracts from the fruits of Alchornea cordifoliaand Pterocarpus santalinoidesand aerial parts of Cassytha fliformisin the traditional treatment of diarrhoegenic bacterial infections. Results: Four diarrhoegenic bacterial isolates: Salmonella typhi, Shigellae dysenteriae, Escherichia coliand Staphylococcus aureuswere used and their antibiotic susceptibility screening showed that they were multi-antibiotic resistant. The extracts exhibited activity against all the test isolates with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 3.125 to 12.5 mg/mL. From the checkerboard assay, the fractional inhibitory concentration indices showed that C. fliformishas antagonistic and indiference activities in combination with either P. santalinoidesor A. cordifolia.This showed that the combination of extracts from the fruits of A. cordifoliaand P. santalinoidesand aerial parts of C. fliformisis counterproductive and invalidates any claim for positive results in the management of diarrhoegenic bacterial infections.