EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, TOXICITY AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF EXTRACTS OF SENSEVIERIA AETHIOPICA (THUNB) AGAINST BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH OTITIS

Abstract

Otitis is highly prevalent infection caused mainly by bacteria and frequently prone to secondary infections. It may lead to other permanent dysfunctions in children and multidrug-resistance has been reported among implicated bacterial pathogens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the phytochemicals, antioxidants and antibacterial potential of acetone and methanolic extracts of Sansevieria aethiopica (Thunb.) leaf against bacterial pathogens responsible for otitis. The phytochemical analyses of the extracts were determined using standard assay methods and the antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic-acid (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ferric reducing power. Brine shrimp lethality test was used to determine the cytotoxicity effect of the extract while macrobroth dilution method was used for the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extracts. The phenolic contents of the extracts were 57.13 and 19.06 mg tannic acid/g in acetone and methanolic extracts respectively. Flavonols and proathocyanidin recorded the least values in methanolic and acetone extracts respectively. The extracts have good antioxidant properties although lower than the standard chemicals used as controls. The extracts expressed antibacterial effects on both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria however, their activity was more pronounced on Gram negative organisms. Although, slightly toxic, the extracts have both bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects on the selected bacteria associated with otitis, especially Gram negative.