Antimicrobial potency of the leaves of fermented and non-fermented Camellia sinensis on some pathogenic clinical isolates

Ghamba, P. E.¹*, Jenifer, B.², Balla, H. J.³, Samaila, A.², Dawurung, J.¹, Usman, Y.⁴, Elizabeth, B.⁵ and Dauda, M. D.³

¹WHO National Polio/ITD Laboratory, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, P.M.B.1414, Borno State, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria.

³Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria.

⁴Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

⁵Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: peghamba@gmail.com. Tel: +234-080-648-205-24.

Accepted 30 November, 2013

Abstract

This study was conducted to screen for the antimicrobial potency of the leaves of fermented and non-fermented Camellia sinensis on some pathogenic clinical isolates, notably: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp. and Candida albicans; however, the major chemical compounds responsible for the activities was determined. The agar diffusion method was used to determine the inhibitory action of the leaves extracts on the tested pathogenic microorganisms. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) exhibited by the extracts against the isolates ranged between 3.125 and 6.25 mg/ml respectively. The zones of inhibition exerted by the extracts was significant (P<0.05) against the clinical isolates which ranged between 11.4 and 13.5 mm. The results revealed that the inhibitory activities displayed by these leaves extracts could be due to the presence of the phytochemical compounds found in the plant extracts.

Key words: Inhibition, phytochemical compounds, Camellia senensis, pathogenic, isolates.