Determination of Bioactive Compounds and Antimicrobial Capabilities of Purified Nymphaea lotus Linn. (Nymphaeaceae) Extract to Multidrug Resistant Enteric Bacteria

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.