Effects of Methanolic Turmeric Extract, Alum on E. coli in Borehole & Sachet Water PH.

The aim of this research were to determine the antibiogram and effects of methanolic turmeric extract and alum on Escherichia coli in some borehole and sachet water in Rivers State respectively. The various concentrations (100mg/ml,50mg/ml,25mg/ml and 12.5mg/ml) of these combinations, methanolic turmeric extract, Alum, MTE+ Alum were tested respectively for antibacterial activity on some strains of E. coli isolated from borehole and sachet water samples. These were compared with an antibiotic standard, using chloramphenicol as a positive control. Antibacterial activity was assessed using disc diffusion method (DDM) respectively. Of these combinations, methanolic turmeric extracts in synergism with Alum (MTE+Alum) exhibited the lowest mean diameter of inhibitory zone (DIZ) values of 5.0-20.0mm and Alum exhibited the largest mean of inhibitory zone (DIZ) values of 8.0-20.0mm on the test organism using disc diffusion method (DDM) respectively. There was no inhibitory zone with MTE+Aum at 12.5 concentration whereas (DIZ) values for methanolic turmeric extract ranged from 8.0-16.0mm by DDM. The susceptibility of combinations were more pronounced against CP064383 E. coli (20.0mm), CP089272 E. coli (14.0mm), AF099077 E.coli (14.0mm) and LG142154 E.coli (18.0mm) respectively. This results revealed that chloramphenicol inhibited the largest DIZ values. However, the activity of chloramphenicol revealed that purified and tested antibiotic should be used as the drug of choice for treatments. And the synergistic effects of methanolic turmeric extract plus Alum was effective against all strains of E.coli with concentration of 100mg/ml and can be used as second line of treatment against infections caused by E.coli. E. coli isolates with a prevalence of 100% were obtained as the test organisms. Susceptibility pattern of the test isolates showed 100% susceptibility to Gentamycin,75% by chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin and Vancomycin. They were resistant to Cefotaxime (75%) and Cotriazole (25%) respectively. Multiple antibiotic resistance index for test isolates revealed 3(75%) of four E.coli strains was >0.2.The results for total heterotrophic bacterial count showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean counts sampling locations Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Phalga. Faecal Coliform Count revealed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean counts with sachet water having the highest values of (2.77±0.14, 2.76±0.09 and 2.77±0.17) Log10CFU/ml while borehole water revealed least counts of (1.46±1.29, 0.79±1.18 and 1.86±1.44) Log10CFU/ml. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potentials of Alum, MTE in synergism with alum as choice of treatment caused by E. coli in water samples from the study area.