Isolation of potential bacterial pathogens from the phylloplane of some selected medicinal plants

  • Authors

    • Haruna Yahaya ismail Department of Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
    • Hauwa S. Bello
    • Ibrahim A. Allamin
    • Elizabeth Danjuma
    2016-06-27
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijsw.v4i2.6156
  • Phylloplane, Medicinal, Plants, Bacteria, Washing.

  • Microorganisms are ubiquitous and their impact could be appreciated directly or indirectly. This study was aimed at determining the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria on the phylloplane of some medicinal plants commonly used to treat diseases by oral administration. Leaves samples were collected aseptically from Cassia fistula (Cassia) Mangifera indica (Mango) and Psidium guajavum (Guava) and their bacterial contents were assessed. Higher bacterial counts were observed in raw samples followed by those washed with sterile water. Samples washed with sterile warm water (blanched) were shown to have lower counts although without statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05). Guava leaves had higher counts (3.4×106 cfu/g) in the raw samples and cassia in blanched (6.4×105 cfu/g). However, mango leaves had the lowest (8.4×105 cfu/g and 2.0×105 cfu/g) in both the treatments respectively. Twenty bacterial species were isolated comprising Gram negative and Gram positive species. Bacterial identification revealed that Proteus mirabilis (35%), Proteus vulgaris (15%), Escherichia coli (15%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5%), Morganella morganii (5%), Salmonella typhi (10%), Enterobacter sp. (5%), Staphylococcus aureus (5%) and Vibrio cholarae (5%) were the prevalent species. These organisms could be potential pathogens and proper washing with hot water may serve a better means of reducing the microbial contents and thus, it is recommended.

  • References

    1. [1] Nostro, A., Germano M.P., D’Angelo, A., Marino, A., Cannatelli, M. A. Extraction methods and bioautography for evaluation of medicinal plant antimicrobial activity. Letters in Applied Microbiology; 30(5), (2000), 379-385.http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1472-765x.2000.00731.x.

      [2] Bussmann, R. W., Glenn, A. and Sharon, D. Healing the body and soul: Traditional remedies for “magical†ailments, nervous system and psychosomatic disorders in Northern Peru. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 4(9), (2110), 580-629.

      [3] Ogunshe, A. A. O., Fasola, T. R. and Egunyomi, A. Bacterial profiles and consumer preference of some indigenous orally consumed herbal medications in Nigeria. Journal of Rural and Tropical Public Health 5, (2006),27-33.

      [4] De Jager, E. S., Wehner, F.C. and Korsten, L. Microbial Ecology of the Mango Phylloplane. Microbial Ecology; 42, (2001), 201–207 DOI: 10.1007/s002480000106.

      [5] Ilorin, M. O., Ahmed, O. O., Ezeani, C. J., Sara, O. and Adebusoye, S. A. Occurrence Microorganisms and Growth Potentials of Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacteria on the Phylloplane of some Tropical Plants†African Journal of Biotechnology 5(7), (2006), 542-545.

      [6] Makhado, N. A. Epiphytic and endophytic members of the Enterobacteriaceaeassociated with healthy Eucalyptus trees. A Master’s Thesis submitted to the University of Pretoria, South Africa. (2006), Pp 31 – 40.

      [7] Benson, M. Microbiological Applications Laboratory Manual. Eighth edition, McGraw−Hill Companies, (2001), New York.

      [8] Prescott, L. M. and Harley, J. P. Laboratory Exercise in Microbiology. 5th edition McGraw-Hill Companies, (2002), NewYork.

      [9] Barrow, G. I. and Feltham, K. A. Cowan and Steel‟s Manual for Identification of Medical Bacteria. 3rd edition. (1993), Cambridge University Press, London.http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511527104.

      [10] Steffens, A. Identification Flow Chart, Bergey's Manual for Determinative Bacteriology. (2011), Available at www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/micro_biology/250/IDFlowcharts.pdf. Last accessed:9/17/14.

      [11] Hallett, C. K., Boyd-Wilson, S.H.and Everett, K. R. Microscope methods for observation of the phylloplane flora. Inc. Tools for Studying Pathogens. New Zealand Plant Protection 63, (2010)15-23.

      [12] Trouvelot, S., Héloir, M. C., Poinssot, B., Gauthier, A., Paris, F. and Guillier, C. Carbohydrates in plant immunity and plant protection: roles and potential application as foliar sprays. Frontiers in Plant Science 5: (2014), 592.http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00592.

      [13] Monier, J. M. and Lindow, S. E. Differential survival of solitary and aggregated bacterial cells promotes aggregate formation on leaf surfaces. Protocols of National Academy of Science U.S.A. (2003),100, 15977–15982.http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2436560100.

      [14] Bringel, F. and Couée, I. Pivotal roles of phyllosphere microorganisms at the interface between plant functioning and atmospheric trace gas dynamics. Frontiers in Microbiology 6, (2015), 486. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00486.

      [15] AHP. Microbial Limits for Botanical Ingredients. American Herbal Product Association, (2014) 2014.

      [16] Schnabel, E. L. andJONES, A. Distribution of Tetracycline Resistance Genes and Transposons among Phylloplane Bacteria in Michigan Apple Orchards. Applied and Environmental Microbiology; 65 (11), (1999) 4898–4907.

      [17] Hashidoko, Y., Itoh, E., Yokota, K., Yoshida, T. and Tahara, S.Characterization of Five Phyllosphere Bacteria Isolated from Rosarugosa Leaves, and their Phenotypic and Metabolic Properties. Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry; 66 (11), (2002), 2474–2478.http://dx.doi.org/10.1271/bbb.66.2474.

      [18] Reisberg, E. E., Hildebrandt, U., Riederer, M., and Hentschel, U. Distinct phyllosphere bacterial communities on Arabidopsis wax mutant leaves. PLoS ONE 8 (2013), e78613.http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078613.

      [19] ASEAN. ASEAN Guidelines on Limits of Contaminants for Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements. 24th ASEAN Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements Scientific Committee Meeting (ATSC) 26th - 27th August 2014, Bangkok, Thailand and Endorsed at the 22nd ACCSQ Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements Product Working Group (TMHSPWG) Meeting 13th – 14th November 2014, Vientiane, Lao PDR.

      [20] WHO (2007). WHO guidelines for assessing quality of herbal medicines with reference to contaminants and residues. Geneva: pp. 12-28.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Yahaya ismail, H., S. Bello, H., A. Allamin, I., & Danjuma, E. (2016). Isolation of potential bacterial pathogens from the phylloplane of some selected medicinal plants. International Journal of Scientific World, 4(2), 37-39. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijsw.v4i2.6156