Abstract:
Kigelia Africana, commonly referred to as the sausage tree or African sausage tree, is a deciduous tree native to tropical Africa. It belongs to the Bignoniaceae family and is renowned for its large, sausage-shaped fruits. It is also native to the Soroti City, and the locals call it edodoi. Escherichia coli infections in poultry present a significant public health concern, resulting in heightened morbidity and mortality rates. This is primarily due to the rapid transmission of the bacteria through contaminated feed, water, and inadequate sanitation conditions. While farmers in Soroti recognised the potential of medicinal plants for treating livestock diseases, most research has primarily focused on E. coli infections in humans. This has resulted in a notable gap in understanding the antibacterial efficacy of Kigelia Africana against E. coli in poultry.
An in vitro study was conducted on this plant (K. Africana) to check for its in vitro antibacterial efficacy on pathogenic E. coli harvested from poultry in Soroti City. Only the healthy, disease-free leaves were picked, air-dried in the shade, and ground using an electric grinder.
The method used for extraction was Soxhlet extraction, and then the mixture with extract was transferred to a water bath to remove methanol. The extract was then reconstituted with 0.2% DMSO, and antimicrobial screening was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. All the experiments were conducted in the laboratory of Busitema University, Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Sciences. K. Africana showed a considerable zone of inhibition of 16.6667 mm on the pathogenic E. coli, meaning that it had strong antibacterial properties against the bacteria.
Oxytetracycline, a known commercial antibiotic on the market, was used in the study as a comparative drug, and it was effective as expected, with the maximum zone of inhibition measured was 26.67 mm against the pathogenic Escherichia coli.
In conclusion, Kigelia africana leaf extracts possess a range of antibacterial properties that effectively treat colibacillosis in poultry. Furthermore, additional research is needed to assess the efficacy of the fruit, roots, and bark against E. coli derived from poultry.
