ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF NYMPHAEA LOTUS (NYMPHAEACEAE) LEAVE EXTRACT AGAINST METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) AND VANCOMYCIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (VRSA) FROM CLINICAL SAMPLES

Ethanolic extracts of Nymphaea lotus leaves were tested for antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) isolated from wounds and urine using the disc diffusion method (DDM) .The results of the phytochemical analyses of the extracts showed the bio-active effect of Nymphaea lotus leaves. The bio-active compounds identified include tannins, terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, cardiac glycosides and phenolics. The anthraquinones, terpenes, and cardiac glycosides were the most prominent bioactive compounds in the extract. The results also showed that both MRSA and VRSA were susceptible to Nymphaea lotus at different concentrations (5, 10, 20, 40, 80) mg/ml). The zones of inhibition ranged from 8.0 ± 0.5mm to 24.0 ± 1.0mm in MRSA and from 8.0 ± 0.5mm to 27.0± 1.0mm. The results also showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) ranged from 5 to 15 and 10-30 for MRSA and VRSA respectively. The antibacterial activity of Nymphaea lotus extracts against MRSA and VRSA showed the plant active compounds as a possible potential antibiotic substance for the treatment and management of staphylococci infections.