Phytochemical Composition And Antibacterial Activity Of Eichhornia Crassipes In Lake Victoria, Kisumu

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an aquatic weed infesting rivers, dams, lakes and irrigation channels. The plant has affected the marine environment with billions of shillings being lost yearly in controlling it and also in economic losses. The plant is causing severe hindrances to the individual nation�s developmental activities. It clogs waterways making boating, fishing and all other water activities impossible. The plant spreads via the waves from the bay to bay blocking waterways and affecting aquatic life as it takes up oxygen from the water. Owing to its tremendous growth, it has threatened the diversity of local native plants alongside the physical and chemical composition of the aquatic environment. It grows very fast and spreads widely across the water body. However, despite this problem the plant has the potential to be used as a medicinal plant. The primary objective of the study was to determine the phytochemical composition and the antibacterial properties of the plant against selected strains of bacteria and determine whether it can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. The plant material for use in the study was obtained from Lake Victoria and classified taxonomically at Botany Department, Egerton University. The crude extract of Eichhornia crassipes was analyzed for phytochemical composition. The crude extract was then subjected to antibacterial assay against bacterial isolates such as Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Phytochemical analysis of Eichhornia crassipes depicted the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and the terpenoids. Additionally, the crude extract of the plant portrayed potential antibacterial activities against some bacterial isolates. Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus showed some level of sensitivity to the crude extract of Eichhornia crassipes. However, there was no activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The diameter of the zone of inhibition was measured for the bacterial isolates that showed sensitivity towards the aqueous extract.

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