Plants For Destroying Leptospira Bacteria

One of the most dreaded zoonotic diseases worldwide that spreads out the most during the rainy season, usually between the months of July-October when flash floods occur, is leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira bacteria. These bacteria are present in the urine and tissues of cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rats, and wild animals. These bacteria present in the urine of animals and pests become harmful once it contaminates the water and enters an open wound or gash.

In fact, leptospirosis had been an outbreak in one of the most populated barangays in Pasig. Several known prevention and control ways of the disease caused by these bacteria includes, avoid swimming or wading in potentially contaminated water or flood water, use proper protection, like boots, when work requires exposure to contaminated water, drain potentially contaminated water when possible, and control rodents in the household by using rat traps or rat poison and maintaining cleanliness in the house (DOH Health Advisory). However, with all the preventions we make, still there are individuals who get infected. When these bacteria get inside the body, the infected person is hospitalized and worst of all some of those who were infected, died due to delayed treatment with antimicrobial drugs. A search for a potent plant extract that may be effective in destroying the bacteria will be a big help. This study focused on determining the potency of the chemical substances present in both Chromolaena odorata (hagonoy) and Dieffenbachia amoena bull (bakya) plants for destroying Leptospira bacteria. Specific objective included is to determine the potency of the leaves extract from the two plants in destroying Leptospira bacteria. Sample of the Chromolaena odorata (hagonoy plant) leaves’ extract was sent to the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) laboratory for phytochemical analysis and the result of the phytochemical test on Diffenbachia amoena bull (bakya) used in the previous study was used to analyze the chemical constituents that may be effective in destroying Leptospira bacteria. The study, however, cannot ascertain the toxicity of the plants against Leptospira bacteria. The results of the study would encourage other researchers to conduct a toxicity test using the plants’ extracts against Leptospira bacteria.

Phytochemical tests for plants’ constituents: Dieffenbachia amoena Bull. (bakya plant), and Chromolaena odorata (Hagonoy plant)The test results conducted by the DOST showed that there are 7 identified chemical constituents present in the two plants’ leaves’ extracts. These are sterols, triterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, and tannins. Triterpenes with chemical formula of C30H48 have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anti-tumor properties. Alkaloids are of any nitrogenous organic compounds that have “pronounced physiological actions on humans”. Sterols are any of a group of naturally occurring unsaturated steroids, alcohols and waxy solids. They slightly effect lowering of fats soluble compounds absorption. Flavonoids are plant chemicals found in almost fruits and vegetables, responsible for their vivid colors. These are foods that have high health benefits. Saponins, glycosides and tannins all have health benefits to humans. Based from the phytochemical analysis of the two plants leaves extracts, both Dieffenbachia amoena bull and Chromolaena odorata contain alkaloids with pronounced physiological actions on humans. In the previous study conducted by the researchers last 2017, it was found out that the 50% bakya plants’ leaves’ extract resulted to 100% mortality rate of cockroaches. Toxicity test of the two plants’ leaves’ extract on Leptospira bacteria was not conducted by the researchers due to the non-availability of the said cultured bacteria which directly came from a DOST analyst. The researchers made an assumption that both plants can also be potentially effective on destroying Leptospira bacteria because of their components, which is alkaloid.

Based on the data gathered, analyzed, and interpreted, it can be concluded that both the bakya plant leaves’ extracts and hagonoy plant leaves’ extracts are potentially capable of destroying Leptospira bacteria because both plants contain chemical constituent/s that is, are capable of destroying other pests.