In the genesis of using plants for treatment of diseases, Garlic and lemon grass were some of the earliest plants that have proven effective. In this study the antimicrobial effect of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) and Allium sativum (garlic) extracts on clinical isolate of Salmonella typhi  was examined. Water, ethanol and methanol were used as extraction solvent. Antimicrobial effects of conventional antibiotics was assayed using disc diffusion method while antimicrobial activity of lemon grass and garlic extracts were carried out using agar well diffusion method and the zones of inhibition was measured in millimeter (mm). Comparatively, the highest percentage yield of extract was observed in water extract of garlic (21.83%) and lemon grass (6.67%). Ciprofloxacin and Perfloxacin have the highest zones of inhibition of 19.73±0.24mm and 14.47±0.31mm respectively against the clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi . Two out of the twelve clinical isolate of Salmonella typhi  used were multi drug resistant. Lemon grass extracts did not show any antimicrobial effects on the clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi  while garlic extracts showed antimicrobial effect at the concentration of 800 mg/ml, water extract of garlic has the highest zone of inhibition (14.00 mm) against the tested isolates. Therefore garlic extract could be used for the formulation of drug and treatment of Salmonella typhi   infection.

The use of Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in screening secondary metabolites provides valuable information on qualitative, quantitative and the pattern of the biologically active compounds. The present study was carried out to identify functional groups present in water, methanol and n-hexane extracts of Allium sativum and Nymphaea lotus. It was revealed that Allium sativum and Nymphaea lotus possess numerous secondary metabolites {A. sativum L. (isothiocynate, acid halide, conjugated aldehyde, imine/oxime, halo compound, conjugated amine, alphaticprimary amine, aldehyde, anhydride, α,β-unsaturated ketone, carboxylic acid, nitro compound, aromatic ester) and N. lotus L. (aliphatic primary amine, halo compound, anhydride, vinyl ether, cabocylic acid, cyclic alkene, unsaturated ketone, aldehyde, aliphatic primary amine, aldehyde, alkane, benzene derivative, sulphide, alkene, akyl aryl ether, sulfonyl chloride, δ-lactone, imine/oxime, thiocyanate, amine salt, esters, alkene, nitro compound, sulphate, sulphone, akyl aryl ether, aromatic ester, fluoro compound, amine salt, sulphonyl chloride, tertiary alchohol, α,β-unsaturated ketone, alkyne, allene, sulfonic acid, α,β-unsaturated ester, alphatic primary amine, amine, sulfonyl chloride, vinyl ether, aromatic amine, alphatic ketone, isothiocyanate, thiocynate, conjugated alkene and anhydride)} that may be biologically active which could be useful in production of antimicrobials and other medicinal products that can be of high benefits in proffering reliable alternative medicine to human and animal diseases.

The increase in multidrug resistance bacteria is a major issue of concern to researchers and healthcare experts. There is a continuous effort by the researchers to innovate new methods of prevention and treatment of infections caused by multidrug resistance bacteria. The occurrence of bioactive compounds and antimicrobial capabilities of Nymphaea lotus Linn. (Nymphaeaceae) extract against multidrug resistant enteric bacteria were studied by assessing in-vitro antibacterial properties of the extract using agar well diffusion technique. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) spectra revealed the presence of thirty (30) functional groups in purified ethanol extract of N. lotus root. Also, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry revealed the presence of different bioactive compounds (5-Nonanol, 2-Pentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-, Azulene, Tetradecanoic acid, 2-Chloroethyl vinyl sulfide, Decanoic acid, ethyl ester, Phytol, 1-Hexadecyne, 2-octenoic acid, Methyl-n-hexadecyl ketone, Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, and n-Hexadecanoic acid) in purified ethanol extract of N. lotus root which can be used in production of antimicrobial drugs. Five fractions of purified ethanol extract of N. lotus root (fraction 3-7) had significant zone of inhibition. Fraction four had the highest zone of inhibition 23.67 ± 0.88 mm while fraction seven had the least zone of inhibition 2.67 ± 1.33 mm.

The increase in multidrug resistance pathogenic bacteria and decrease in efficiency of existing antibiotics is a serious global health concern which call for development of new alternative medicine and continuous research for new classes of antimicrobial agents that can be effective in destroying these multidrug resistant pathogens without or with minimal side effect and at an affordable cost. N. lotus has been reported to possess some amount of phytochemicals such as phenols, tannins, saponins, steroids, proanthocyanidins and flavanols which may serve as an effective antimicrobial agent. This study was aimed at determining the antibacterial effect of Nymphaea lotus (Linn) extracts on enteric bacteria isolated from River Ogbese, Nigeria. Water samples were collected every week for a period of sixteen (16) weeks aseptically and transported to the laboratory for microbiological and physicochemical examinations; enteric bacteria were isolated from the water samples using membrane filtration method. Bioactive components of N. lotus were extracted using Ethanol, water and N-Hexane solvents. In-vitro antibacterial effect of N. lotus extracts was assayed using agar well diffusion technique. Results showed Shigella and faecal coliforms had the highest occurrence in the water samples at (30.19%) followed by Salmonella (20.76%) and Escherichia coli (18.87%). Physicochemical characteristics of water samples from River Ogbese showed that water temperature ranged from 22.00 to 28.10 ℃, turbidity ranged from 2.00 to 33.80 NTU and phosphate ranged from 5.45 to 68.57 mg/L respectively. Whilst the isolates had the highest total percentage resistance to Augmentin at 20.03 %, ethanol extract of N. lotus exhibited the highest mean zone of inhibition of 24.67±0.67 mm against the isolates at 100 mg/mL respectively. The findings from this study suggest N. lotus extracts to be effective in the treatment of enteric infections that may occur as a result of consumption or contact with faecal impacted water.

There is much concern on spread of pathogenic enteric bacteria and there resistance to commercially available antibiotics. There is a need for development of a new reliable drug for the treatment of diseases caused by these bacteria. This study determines the antimicrobial capabilities of purified Allim sativum extract to multidrug resistant enteric bacteria. In-vitro antibacterial properties of the extract was carried out using agar well diffusion technique against antibiotics resistant enteric bacteria. The results revealed that Seven fractions of partially purified water extract of Allium sativum (fraction 5-11) had significant zone of inhibition to the test enteric bacteria. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) spectra revealed the presence of 24 functional groups in functional groups in water extract of A. sativum. Also, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry revealed the presence of different compounds in water extract of Allium sativum.