Resistance Patterns and Plasmid Profile of Isolates from Diarhoeic Stool Samples Subjected to Susceptibility Testing on Crude Root Extracts of Uvaria chamae (P. Beauv)

Uvaria chamae is a plant used traditionally in the treatment of diarrhea but sometimes prolonged illnesses are usually observed. This work was conducted to evaluate resistance patterns and the plasmid profile of isolates from diarrhoeic stool samples subjected to susceptibility testing on crude root extracts of U. chamae (P. Beauv). Standard techniques were employed for crude root extraction of the plant and phy¬tochemical screening. Ten test isolates of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica species were obtained from the University of Uyo Medical Centre. Confirmation of the isolates was done using conventional tests and MicrogenTM GN ID System (Microgen Bioproducts, USA). Susceptibility testing of the isolates was assessed using the agar-well diffusion technique. Plasmids were extracted using gel electrophoresis and reverted using acridine orange. Results showed that U. chamae has tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and other phytochemical constituents. E. coli-1, E. coli-2, E. coli-3, E. coli-5, S. enterica-1, S. enterica-2, S. enteri¬ca-4 were initially resistant to the crude ethanolic root extracts of U. chamae at various concentrations with a low zone of inhibition and no zone of inhibition respectively. The isolates harbored single or multiple plasmids of low molecular weights (564 bp) together with high molecular weight (23.13 kbp). The non-sus-ceptibility E. coli-5, S. enterica-1, S. enterica-2, and S. enterica-3 after plasmids elimination was observed. Therefore, resistance profiling of bacteria is essential for the proper treatment of infections caused by them. Additionally, U. chamae should be greatly exploited for discoveries of more bioactive constituents.