Kehinde Abraham Odelade

Title : Experimental and theoretical studies on ethanolic extracts of ageratum conyzoides leaf as potential antibiotic drugs

Abstract:

Background: The therapeutic potency of different parts of medicinal plants have been explored for the treatment of diseases and infections both in developing and underdeveloped nations. Ageratum conyzoides Linn has been widely used in West Africa and South America as therapy for aging and microbial infections. The study is aimed at investigating the phytochemical profile and antibacterial potentials of ethanolic leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides Linn using in vitro and in silico approaches.
Methods: The qualitative phytochemical components of A. conyzoides were extracted using cold extraction (ethanol) method. These components included alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, phlobatannins, and others. Ageratum conyzoides crude extract was also evaluated for its antibacterial properties against a number of clinical isolates, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Graphpad Prisms 5 and the 2-way ANOVA technique were used to statistically examine the antibacterial activity at various doses. Statistical comparison was also made between ethanolic A. conyzoides extracts and common antibiotic discs including gentamycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin. The phytochemicals present in the studied plants were docked against tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (PDB ID: 1jij) (gram+ bacteria) and type IIA topoisomerase (PDB ID: 2xct) (gram- bacteria).
Results: The phytochemical screenings revealed the presence of some secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, terpenoids, and tannins. Ageratum conyzoides crude extract significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Statistically, ethanolic A. conyzoides extract was significant when compared with gentamycin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and others. Also, the phytochemicals in A. conyzoides significantly inhibited tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (PDB ID: 1jij) and type IIA topoisomerase (PDB ID: 2xct) which are drug targets in bacteria therapy.
Conclusion: The study revealed that A. conyzoides was potent against pathogenic bacterial isolates, and activity could be linked to the phytochemicals analyzed. Therefore, the leaves of A. conyzoides could serve as templates for the production of novel antibiotics.

Audience Take Away:

• The phytochemicals present in the ethanolic extract of Ageratum. Conyzoides
• The antibacterial activities of the extract against bacterial pathogens
• The mechanism of action between the phytochemicals and the pathogenic genes present in the bacterial isolates
• That extract from A. conyzoides  could be formulated to produce alternative antibiotic drugs with little or no adverse effect on the consumers

Biography:

Dr. Kehinde A. ODELADE is a young, versatile and hardworking researcher. He had lectured at Hallmark University, Ijebu Itele, Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, and presently full-time staff with Federal Polytechnic, Ayede. He had his first and second degrees in biology (microbiology option) and PhD in biology (microbiology/metagenomics). He had his first and second degrees at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria and his doctoral degree at North-West University, South Africa. He has published a number of scientific articles in reputable journals. He is a resourceful researcher with passion to always carry out research with outstanding outputs.