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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328013
Title: Antibacterial activity of fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) crude extracts against a rabbit Escherichia coli isolate

Author
item CHALGHOUMI, R - University Of Carthage, Tunisia
item MABROUKI, S - University Of Carthage, Tunisia
item ABDOULI, H - University Of Carthage, Tunisia
item Line, John

Submitted to: Academia Journal of Microbiology Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2016
Publication Date: 11/15/2016
Citation: Chalghoumi, R., Mabrouki, S., Abdouli, H., Line, J.E. 2016. Antibacterial activity of fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) crude extracts against a rabbit Escherichia coli isolate. Academia Journal of Microbiology Research. 4(11):139-144. https://doi.org/10.15413.2016.0117.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15413.2016.0117

Interpretive Summary: Post-weaned rabbits are sensitive to digestive disorders some of which may be due or aggravated by enteric bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a medicinal plant known for its various pharmacological properties, including its antibacterial activity. The purpose of this study was to screen the phytochemical active constituents of fenugreek seeds and evaluate their potential activity against an E. coli strain isolated from a morbid rabbit. Aqueous and organic (hexane, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and methanol) extracts were prepared from powdered, pre-germinated fenugreek seeds and used at three concentrations (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/mL) by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone (IZ) using an agar-well diffusion method. The results showed that the aqueous extracts had no antibacterial effect. Regarding the organic extracts, only those prepared with chloroform, acetone or methanol demonstrated a low to moderately high growth inhibitory effect (8.33 mm = IZ = 20 mm) when tested at a concentration equal to or above 5 mg/mL. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of the major compounds known to have antibacterial activity such as tannins and flavonoids in the aqueous and methanolic extracts. These results may be useful to researchers who are studying alternatives to antibiotics in animal production and could lead to a natural product for reducing colonization.

Technical Abstract: Post-weaned rabbits are sensitive to digestive disorders some of which may be due or aggravated by enteric bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a medicinal plant known for its various pharmacological properties, including its antibacterial activity. This study aimed to screen the phytochemical active constituents of Fenugreek seeds and evaluate their potential activity against an E. coli strain isolated from a morbid rabbit. Aqueous and organic (hexane, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and methanol) extracts were prepared from powdered, pre-germinated fenugreek seeds and used at three concentrations (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/mL) by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone (IZ) using an agar-well diffusion method. The results showed that the aqueous extracts had no antibacterial effect. Regarding the organic extracts, only those prepared with chloroform, acetone or methanol have shown low to moderately high growth inhibitory effect (8.33 mm = IZ = 20 mm) when tested at a concentration equal to or above 5 mg/mL. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of the major compounds known to have antibacterial activity such as tannins and flavonoids in the aqueous and methanolic extracts. Quantitative analysis of compounds from the different extracts is needed to explain these results more fully.