Journal Article

Anti-Diarrhoeal, Phytochemical and Toxicological Studies of Vitex doniana Extracts on Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Diarrhoeal Stool of Some Children (0-5) Years

Abstract

Diarrhoea is reported to be an infectious disease capable of causing morbidity and mortality in both developing and developed countries. This study was carried out to determine the anti-diarrheal activity, phytochemical and toxicological studies of Vitex doniana extracts against Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeal stool of children less than five years. The antibacterial activity was carried out using agar well diffusion method, while phytochemical screening was conducted using Sofowora, Harbone and Hassan’s methods. The acute toxicity (LD50) test was also carried out using Lorke and Hassan’s methods. The phytochemical screening of Vitex doniana leaf extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins and glycosides, while stem-bark extracts indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, saponins and tannins. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), 18.25% (n=13) of the strains were susceptible to acetone leaf fraction, 50% (n=8) were susceptible to acetone stem-bark fraction, 69% (n=11) to hexane leaf fraction, 94% (n=15) to methanol leaf fraction, 75% (n=12) to methanol stem-bark fraction and aqueous leaf fraction, 88.5% (n=14) to aqueous stem-bark fraction and 94% (n=15) to ciprofloxacin. Based on the result of acute toxicity test (LD)50 greater than5000mg/kg body weight, then the plant extracts are safe for consumption. The result has justified their utilization by the traditional medicine practioners for the treatment of diarrhoea and other related ailments associated with Escherichia coli strains

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