Phytochemically analyzed juglans regia root extracts and their bactericidal facets against some urinary tract infection causing bacteria

Abstract

Background: In this study, root extract of medicinal plant Juglans regia was analyzed for antibacterial potential against various uropathogenic bacteria, the increasing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to conventional antibiotics and their side effects, the root of the Juglans regia was analysed for phytochemical constituents, and their different solvent extracts screened against six clinical isolates of UTI causing bacteria, to ascertain their effectiveness in UTI treatment, and provide basis for future clinical trials of the plant. Methods: Antibacterial study was carried out on clinically isolated urinary tract infections (UTI) causing bacteria. Identification of isolated bacteria was done by biochemical tests. The phytochemical analyzing of root extracts of Juglans regia was done by method of Raman (2006) and Harbone (2005). Antibacterial activity of crude extract was done by disc diffusion method using ciprofloxacin as a control. Results: The inhibitory activities of extracts of Juglans regia against isolates Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, S. saprophyticus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to the control. Among the three different root extracts tested against six pathogenic bacteria causing urinary tract infections (UTIs), ethyl acetate extract was effective against all pathogenic bacteria with the highest inhibition followed by methanolic extract while, hexane extract was also effective against causative agents with moderate inhibition zone. Preliminary phytochemical screening shows the presence of phytoconstituents viz alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, carbohydrates, proteins, aminoacids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins. Conclusion: The plant showed that extracts of Juglans regia contain significant antibacterial activity against uropathogenic bacteria and hence, in future it could be used to obtain novel therapeutic compounds for the treatment of patients suffering from urinary tract infections.