Publication:

Antimicrobial Efficacy Study Of Acmella Caulirhiza And Spermacoce Princeae Used By Postpartum Mothers In Nyamira County, Kenya

uerperal sepsis is the major cause of (31%) maternal mortality. Appropriate care could prevent majority of these deaths. Exogenous and endogenous organisms are the causatives agents. Traditional medicine have been used in treating postpartum sepsis for example Acmella caulirhiza used to treat a child’s mouth sores and Spermacoce princeae used to accelerate healing of umbilical cord and to clean the system after birth. The main objective of the present study was to determine antimicrobial activity levels of A. caulirhiza and S. princeae used by postpartum mothers in Nyamira County, Kenya. The study area was Nyamira County where the two plant specimen and clinical specimens of 339 mothers were collected. Plant materials were identified at East Africa Herbarium. Plant specimens were transported to M.K.U. Pharmacognosy laboratory where processing was done. Clinical specimens were collected from mothers at Nyamira Level 5 Hospital. A single high vaginal swab was collected from each participant, immediately inserted in stuart’s transport medium, labeled, placed in a cooler box, triple packaged and transported to Microbiology laboratory of M.K.U. within 48 hours where processing were done. Culture, isolation, identification were done. Disc diffusion method was employed to determine antimicrobial activity in the compounds of the crude plant extracts. Data was stored in Excel spread sheet in a personal computer protected with a password. Antimicrobial activity was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data was presented using, tables and photographs. Results: Antibacterial activity of A. caurhiza and S. princeae indicated that, the whole plant extracts had low antibacterial effects against S. aureus and E. coli. No antifungal effects were detected for crude extracts of the two plants. Discussion; the two plants used by the local inhabitants of Nyamira County in treating postpartum infections indicated that, they possess low antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. However, no antifungal activity was detected from the two plants. Recommendation; the two plants may be used in treating postpartum infections though commercially available drugs are recommended as they are highly effective. The two plants indicated low antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. However, further studies are recommended on genotoxicity of this plant extracts on S. aureus and E. coli genes. Also further research is recommended to isolate and identify pure compounds of the two plants to establish pharmacological basis of antibacterial activity shown even though it was low