Anti-microbial Activity of Aqueous Quercus infectoria Gall Extract against Pathogenic Leptospira

Abstract

BackgroundQuercus infectoria gall extract is known to have broad spectrum anti-microbial activity in vitro. This study was conducted to determine the anti-microbial activity of Q. infectoria gall extract against pathogenic Leptospira and to evaluate the morphological changes of extract-treated cells using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).MethodsA two-fold serial microdilution broth assay was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of aqueous Q. infectoria gall extract against the L. interrogans serovar Javanica and the L. interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae, at concentrations ranging from 4.00 mg/mL to 0.0078 mg/mL. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined by sub-culturing the broth from the microtiter plate wells that showed no apparent growth or turbidity to the freshly prepared Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) broth media, and it was subsequently observed under a dark field microscope following three weeks of incubation for purposes of growth detection. The cell morphology of both extract-treated and untreated L. interrogans serovar Icterohaemorhagiae was analysed using the SEM.ResultsThe results of the broth microdilution assay demonstrate that the aqueous Q. infectoria gall extract possesses anti-microbial activity against both of the L. interrogans serovars with MIC values of 0.125 mg/mL. The MBC values for the L. interrogans serovar Javanica and the L. interrogans serovar Icterohaemorhagiae are 0.125 mg/mL and 0.250 mg/mL, respectively. The SEM micrograph shows changes in shape and size of the extract-treated cells (at 8× MIC) in comparison to the untreated cells.ConclusionThe Q. infectoria gall extract displays anti-microbial inhibition and killing activity against the pathogenic Leptospira isolates, and thus has the potential for further exploration of its efficacy and use in the treatment of leptospirosis.

Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Quercus Species

“…The antimicrobial activity was evidenced against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium , and Candida albicans , and the results showed disinfection of eggshell microbial contamination, by immersion in 1% QIE solution, sharply reduced total colony count, yeasts, and molds, and Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli , and S. aureus were completely inhibited after 60 min of immersion in QIE [ 102 ]. Another investigation demonstrated that the extract of the Quercus infectoria gall possesses antimicrobial activity against Leptospira interrogans serovar Javanica and Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae with MIC values of 0.125 mg/mL [ 103 ].…”

Antibacterial activity of medicinal plants against Leptospira spp.: a literature review

“…Alternative therapies for the treatment of leptospirosis, such as the use of validated medicinal plants, are still limited. However, in the last decade, some scientific studies have aimed to study the mechanisms of action of plants and their bioactive compounds in the treatment of leptospira pathogens, both to elucidate the mechanisms of action (Chandan et al, 2012;Divya et al, 2013;Seesom et al, 2013;Mustafa et al, 2018).…”

“…Although the extract compositions present variations, all these plants in their respective studies showed positive results in treatment of pathogenic serovars of Leptospira spp. (Saravan et al, 2012;Chandan et al, 2012;Seesom et al, 2013;Nelson et al, 2013;Divya et al, 2013;Chander et al, 2015;Mustafa et al, 2018).…”

The acetone crude extract of Quercus infectoria (Olivier) galls alters pH of the digestive vacuole of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

“…Quercus infectoria (Olivier) (Fagaceae) is one of the medicinal plants traditionally used in folk medicines for post-partum medication and various ailments (Umachigi et al, 2008;Vuthikunchai & Suwalak, 2008;Aroonrerk & Kamkaen, 2009;Jamal et al, 2011). The galls of the plant have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial properties (Hussein et al, 2000;Sawangjaroen et al, 2004;Sawangjaroen & Sawangjaroen, 2005;Ozbilgin et al, 2013;Baharuddin et al, 2014;Kheirandish et al, 2016;Mustafa et al, 2018;Nik Mat Zin et al, 2019). Our recent finding reported that the gall acetone crude extract possesses a promising antimalarial activity in vitro (IC 50 = 5.85 ± 1.90 μg/mL) against the chloroquine-sensitive strain (3D7) of P. falciparum (Nik Mat Zin et al, 2020).…”