Antibiotic susceptibility profiling and in-vitro antibacterial activity of some plant extracts to Escherichia coli isolated from spoiled rice and egg

Studies were conducted to isolate and identify Escherichia coli from deteriorated rice and eggs as well as to evaluate antibiotic sensitivity pattern and screen some herbal extracts for their antibacterial activity against E. coli. A total of 10 from 52 isolates were identified by a series of morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. Eight antibiotics were tested by disc diffusion method where 90% of E. coli isolates showed resistance against sulphamethoxazole but found to be sensitive against gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. Erythromycin, streptomycin and cephradin showed 20% resistance in their sensitivity test results. However some medicinal plant extracts have been investigated during the study to assay their antibacterial activity against E. coli isolates so that diarrhea and dysentery associated with these bacteria can be treated by those fastidious herbs. Among 32 herbal extracts tested 12 extracts showed antibacterial activity against E. coli. Leaf extracts of Temarindus indicus, Terminalia chebula, Citrus aurantifolia, Eugenia caryophyllus, Spondius pinnata and bulb extracts of Raphanus sativus were able to exhibit antibacterial activity against all Escherichia Coli isolates. Thus medicinal herbs would be the better solution for the effective treatment of E. coli associated diarrhea and dysentery.