Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 9 (2021) 387-396

doi: 10.17265/2328-2150/2021.11.005
D DAVID PUBLISHING

Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria

scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with Salmonella
Enteritidis

Herman M. F Biekop1, Marc K Kouam1,2, Gabriel T Kamsu3, Vivian Yengeh1, Bridget Katte1 and Alexis Teguia1
1. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, PO BOX 188, Dschang, Cameroon
2. Center for Research on Filariases and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon
3. Microbiology and Antimicrobial Substances Research Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon

Abstract: Antimicrobial use in livestock is faced with various challenges including emergence of antimicrobial resistance and
presence of drug residues in meat products, hence the need for alternatives. The aim of this work was to assess the effect a plant
(Zehneria scabra) extract on Salmonella infected quails, as an alternative to antibiotic therapy. Quails were randomly assigned into
six groups each containing twelve birds. The neutral control (T0) group was not infected and received tap water whereas other groups
were infected. The negative control (T-) received tap water. The positive control (T+) received a single dose of oxytetracycline (20
mg/kg). T1, T2 andT3 orally received the plant extract at the following respective doses: 9, 18 and 37 mg/kg. Quails were infected by
oral administration of a single dose of Salmonella Enteritidis (105 CFU). Haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated.
From day 2 to day 9 to day 16, the bacterial load of all treatment groups (T+, T1, T2, T3) decreased. The infection resulted in a
significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, total cholesterol and white blood cells, and a
significant decrease in the liver and kidney protein content. The treatment resulted in the correction of the aforementioned effects.
The plant extract (18 mg/kg) is as effective as oxytetracycline, and can be safely used in phytomedicine for the treatment of
Salmonella Enteritidis infection without kidney and liver damage.

Key words: Zehneria scabra, Salmonella Enteritidis, antisalmonellal activity, quails.

1. Introduction performances and treat diseases, antibiotics are

usually used as monogastric drugs as growth promoter
Salmonella is a gram-negative bacterium, which is
or for disease control [3-5]. The use of antimicrobial
one of the pathogenic bacteria that thrive in the
drugs is increasing as livestock production is scaled up
digestive tract of livestock. Salmonella Typhimurium
to meet the growing demand for meat. Unfortunately,
and enteritidis are the most important bacteria that
the increasing and indiscriminate antimicrobial
often attack living birds or contaminate poultry meat
consumption has led to emergence of antimicrobial
or by-products intended for human consumption [1].
resistance [6], presence of drug residues in animal
Recently, it has been reported that Salmonella
products in Cameroon [7]. Besides, antibiotics
infection is one of the main reasons for the health
damage the ecological balance of the gastrointestinal
problems and productivity decline of laying hens in
biota, hence predisposing animals to diseases.
Cameroon [2].
Many natural and synthetic substances have been
Infection with Salmonella inhibits the growth of
investigated in order to mitigate the public risk of drug
livestock. Thus, in order to improve the growth
residues and the side effects of antibiotics, and to
reduce farmers’ dependence on antibiotics [8].
Corresponding author: Biekop Herman, student, research
Amongst those substances, essential oils [9] and
fields: microbiology, epidemiology (including infectious
disease). E-mail: hbiekopfandio@yohoo.com. extracts [10] from plant origin have been of
388 Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with
Salmonella Enteritidis
considerable interest as an alternative solution for
controlling pathogenic microorganisms [11].
Therefore, plants should be investigated to better
understand their properties, safety and efficacy [12].
Among these plants, there is a climbing herb of
Cucurbitaceae, which can be as high as 10 meters.
This plant is found in forest and on forest margins,
riverine fringes and exotic plantations across
900-2100 m above sea level with a widespread
distribution in tropical Africa [13]. Zehneria scabra is
traditionally used for the treatment of typhoid fever,
diarrhea and stomach pain in human in the West
Region of Cameroon, but little research has been done
on it. The antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of
Z. scabra against Staphylococcus aureus and
Escherichia coli has been shown but nothing has been
done to evaluate their efficacy on Salmonella [14].
Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate
the antibacterial activity of crude leaf extracts of Z.
scabra in quails infected with Salmonella.
2. Material and Methods
2.1 Study Site
The trial was carried out at the experimental farm of
the University of Dschang, located at 1420 m above
sea level, between 5°26’ North and 10°26’ East. It has
a moderate temperature ranging from 10 °C to 25 °C
with an average annual rainfall from 1500 to 2000 mm
over a 9 months rainy season.
2.2 Collection and Identification of Plant Material
Leaves of Zehneria scabra were collected in the dry
season (February 2019) in Foumbot, a town of the
Noun Division in the West Region of Cameroon. The
plant was identified at the National Herbarium in
Yaounde-Cameroon using a voucher specimen
registered under the reference HNC N°66689 by Mr.
Tadjouteu Fulbert.
2.3 Plant Preparation
The leaves of Z. scabra were air-dried at room
temperature and powdered to coarse particles using
machine blender. The extract was prepared using a
previously described method [15]. In fact, 100 g of
plant powder was dissolved in 95 °C ethanol, and after
dissolution, the mixture was constantly starred for 48
hours. The mixture was then filtered using Whatman
paper N°1. The filtrates were concentrated at 45 °C in
a rotating evaporator for 24 hours. The obtained
product was later dried in an oven at 40 °C for 5 days
to allow the water to evaporate and to obtain the
extract. The plant extract was stored in sterilized
bottles at room temperature until used.
2.4 Test Bacterium and Culture Media
The strain of Salmonella Enteritidis used in this
study was obtained from the medical bacteriology
laboratory of “Centre Pasteur” of Yaounde, Cameroon.
Bacteria were maintained on agar slant at 4 °C and
sub-cultured on fresh nutrient agar plate 24 hours prior
to antibacterial test. Salmonella-Shigella agar (SSA)
was used for activation of Salmonella and also during
in vivo assay for bacterial counts and identification
2.5 Antibacterial Test
The in vitro susceptibility of Salmonella species
was tested by broth micro-dilution method. The
minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of
Z. scabra extract and the antibiotic effect on
salmonella isolate were determined using rapid
iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) colorimetric assay
[8]. Briefly, 8.19 mg of each extract was dissolved in
200 µl of Dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) then
completed to 2 ml using MHB broth. In each well of a
96-well microplate, 100 μl of culture broth (MHB)
were introduced. Then, 100 μl of extract were
introduced respectively into the wells of the first line;
subsequently, serial dilutions following a geometric
progression of order 2 were performed. One hundred
microliters (100 µL) of each of 1.5 × 106 CFU/mL
bacterial suspensions were added to respective wells
containing test samples except medium sterility
 Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with
Salmonella Enteritidis
control wells, and mixed thoroughly to obtain a total
volume of 200 µl per well. The wells containing MHB
and 100 µl of inoculum served as negative control and
the wells containing antibiotic and 100 µl of inoculum
served as positive control. The plates were covered
with a sterile plate sealer and incubated at 37 °C for
18 hours. Ten 40 µl of aqueous solution of 0.2%
p-INT bromide was added to the wells and the plate
was reincubated at 37 °C for 30 minutes in order to
detect the MICs samples. The presence of viable
bacteria changes the yellow dye (p-INT) to pink. The
MIC was defined as the lowest concentration of the
sample that prevented this change and exhibited
complete inhibition of microbial growth. The
minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was
determined by adding 50 µl aliquots of the
preparations which did not show any growth after
incubation during the MIC assays to 150 µl of MHB
broth. These preparations were then incubated at
37 °C for 48 hours. The MBC was recorded as the
lowest concentration of extract which did not produce
a color change after addition of INT as previously
described.
2.6 Study Design and Treatment
Seventy-two 4-week-old female quails with a body
weight of 192 to 197 g were selected as animal
models. These birds were bought from a local farmer,
and kept in wire cages at the Teaching and Research
Farm of the Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural
Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon. They
were allowed an adaptation period of one week before
the experiment started.
Animals were grouped into six groups (G1 to G6),
each containing 12 animals with approximately
similar weight. The animals were randomly assigned
to each group and treated as follows: G1 was not
infected and received tap water during the treatment
period (neutral control, T0) whereas the remaining
groups (G2 to G6) were infected. G2 received tap
water during the treatment (negative control, T-), G3
389
orally received a single dose of oxytetracycline at 20
mg/kg bw during treatment (positive control, T+); G4
(T1), G5 (T2) and G6 (T3) received by oral gavages
the Z. scabra extract at the following respective doses:
9 mg/kg bw corresponding to the therapeutic dose
derived from the minimum inhibitory concentration of
ethanolic extract of Z. scabra against Salmonella
Enteritidis, 18 mg/kg bw corresponding to half of the
traditional practitioners dose, and 37 mg/kg bw
corresponding to the daily dose given by traditional
practitioners. Each treated animal (G3 to G6) was
treated once a day in the morning for twelve
consecutive days, from the 4th day post infection.
2.7 Challenges with Salmonella Enteritidis
For salmonellosis induction, 1 ml of Salmonella
Enteritidis suspension prepared at 105 CFU/ml was
orally administrated to each animal. The beak was
kept closed for a few seconds to avoid inoculum
rejection. Successfully infected animals were
identified on the basis of their faecal bacteria load and
clinical signs such as ruffled feathers, diarrhoea,
drowsiness with the eyes half closed and presence of
blood in the faeces. Four days post-infection, the plant
extract and antibiotic were administered by oral
gavage to the birds. Monitoring of the evolution of the
bacterial load in quails faeces was carried out from the
second day post infection until the end of the
treatment.
2.8 Bacterial Evaluation
24 hours after inoculation, fresh faeces from each
animal were collected and grown on SSA medium. In
order to follow the effect of the plant extract as well as
the efficacy of the treatment, the amount of bacterial
colonies in faecal samples was evaluated using the
following protocol: the fresh faecal matter from each
quail was collected with sterile cloacal swabs and put
in 10 ml distilled water every two days. 50 μl of the
resulting solution was spread on the surface of
solidified SSA in 90 mm type Petri dishes. After
390 Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with
Salmonella Enteritidis
incubation for 24 h at 37 °C, the number of colonies
following growth of Salmonella Enteritidis in each
Petri dish was determined and recorded. The decrease
in faecal bacteria load during treatment was indicative
of the in vivo antisalmonellal activity of Z. scabra
ethanolic extract.
2.9 Sample Collection
At the end of treatment, quails were fasted for 12
hours and 8 animals per treatment group were selected,
then bled, plucked and eviscerated. The blood was
collected into two different tubes, one containing
anticoagulant [ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid
(EDTA)] and the other without anticoagulant. The
EDTA blood was used for the determination of
haematological parameters, whereas blood without
EDTA was used for the preparation of serum samples.
For serum preparation, the blood was allowed to clot
at room temperature for 3 hours and then refrigerated
for another 1 hour. The resultant liquid part was
centrifuged at 3,000 r/min for 15 minutes and then the
clear serum was isolated and stored at -20 °C before
the analysis. The homogenate of each organ was
prepared in phosphate buffer saline solution at the
concentration of 15% (i.e. 15 g organ in 100 ml of
solution [16]. The homogenate samples were
centrifuged at 3,000 r/min for 15 min, and the
supernatants were then collected and stored in
Eppendorf tubes.
2.10 Haematological and Biochemical Analysis
Haematological analysis was carried out using full
automatic blood cell counter. Haematological
parameters included white blood cell (WBC), red
blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hgb), haematocrit
and platelets. Evaluation of biochemical parameters
(total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins
(HDL), triglyceride, urea and creatinin) was done
following standard methods. Total serum protein and
organ proteins were assayed by the Biuret method [17].
Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol
were determined by enzymatic methods [18], while
AST and ALT were determined [19]. Serum creatinine
and urea were quantified by kinetic method [20].
2.11 Statistical Analysis
Data obtained were expressed as mean ± SEM and
were statistically analysed using One-way ANOVA.
The Waller Duncan test was used to compare means
of different groups. A p-value of < 0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
Statement for animal rights: The research was
conducted in accordance with internationally accepted
principles for laboratory animal use and care (e.g.
European community guidelines/EEC Directive of
1986 or the US guidelines/NIH publication).
3. Results
3.1 Evolution of the Bacterial Load during the Trial
The results of the stool culture are presented in
figure 1. The bacterial growth was observed in all
infected groups until the second day after infection,
followed by adecrease in the bacterial load two days
after treatment. Following the administration of the
different extract doses to infected quails, there was a
decrease in the bacterial load in treated groups (T+,
T1, T2, T3) starting from the second day of treatment
until complete cancellation after day 9 up to day 16.
Meanwhile, bacterial growth in the untreated group
(T-) was observed until day 14.
3.2 Effect of Treatment on Haematological Parameters
The effects of the treatment on haematological
parameters were evaluated and the results are
presented in table 1. The infection resulted in a
significant (p < 0.05) decrease in platelet count and a
significant (p < 0.05) increase in white blood cell
count compared to the neutral control (T0). In general,
the treatment resulted in a reduction of these
parameters compared to the negative control.
 Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with 391
Salmonella Enteritidis

12000
bacterial load (ˣ1000 UFC/ml

10000 T0

8000 T-

T+ (oxy)
6000
T1 (9mg/kg)
4000
T2 (18mg/kg)
2000
T3 (37mg/kg)

0
D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D6 D8 D10 D12 D14 D16

Time (days)

Fig. 1 Evolution of the bacterial load in quails with respect to time (days). T0 = neutral control (received distilled water), T+:
infected and treated with Oxytetracycline at 20 mg/kg bw (positive control); T- = negative control (infected and received
distilled water), T1: Extract 9 mg/kg, T2: Extract 18 mg/kg, T3: Extract 37 mg/kg. Infection was done at day 0 and treatment
started at day 4 post infection.

Table 1 Effect of treatment on haematological parameters.

Treatments
Haematological parameters
T0 T- T+ T1 (9 mg/kg) T2 (18 mg/kg) T3 (37 mg/kg)
White blood cells (x104/µl) 25.93 ± 1.21b 35.10 ± 2.09a 29.20 ± 4.19ab 30.73 ± 7.74ab 31.87 ± 0.72ab 28.63 ± 3.50ab
Red blood cells (x106/µl) 3.51 ± 0.19 3.58 ± 0.72 3.64 ± 0.17 3.42 ± 0.07 3.88 ± 0.30 3.65 ± 0.33
Haematocrit (%) 49.58 ± 2.10 50.27 ± 5.21 50.50 ± 3.42 50.90 ± 3.05 56.60 ± 1.71 47.70 ± 3.03
Haemoglobin (g/dl) 18.90 ± 1.21 16.63 ± 2.05 17.33 ± 0.91 17.80 ±1.81 19.97 ± 1.32 19.68 ± 1.30
Platelets (x103/µl) 131.25 ± 15.50a 90.75 ± 10.95b 86.67 ± 2.08b 95.33 ± 4.51b 98.00 ± 5.29b 100.25 ± 9.18b
T0: uninfected and untreated, T+: infected and treated with Oxytetracycline; T-: infected and untreated; T1: Extract 9 mg/kg, T2:
Extract 18 mg/kg, T3: Extract 37 mg/kg. The table values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. In the same row, the values
bearing the different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05).

and increase of AST level (non-significant P > 0.05)

3.3 Effect of Treatment on Serum Biochemical
Parameters
The effects of treatment on serum biochemical is
summarised in Table 2. The infection caused a
significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of
triglyceride, total cholesterol and ALT compared to
T0 (Table 2). The administration of the extract
resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in total
cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to the
negative control at the dose of 37 mg/kg and 18 mg/kg
respectively compared to the neutral control. The
infection caused a slight decrease in HDL-cholesterol
compared with neutral control (T0).
3.4 Effect of Treatment on Tissue Protein Levels
The effects of treatment on the level of tissue
protein are summarised in table 3. The infection
resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in protein
levels on ovarian and cardiac compared to the neutral
control. In contrast, the treatment resulted in a
significant increase in protein levels in renal and
hepatic organs compared to the negative control at the
dose of 37 mg/kg (T3) compared to the neutral
control.
392 Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with
Salmonella Enteritidis

Table 2 Effect of treatment of ethanolic extract from Z. scabra on biochemical parameters.

Treatment
Biochemical parameters
T0 T- T+ T1 (9 mg/kg) T2 (18 mg/kg) T3 (37 mg/kg)
Total protein (g/dl) 3.97 ± 0.76 3.90 ± 0.16 4.14 ± 0.34 3.79 ± 0.39 4.26 ± 0.25 4.17 ± 0.44
Albumin (g/dl) 1.57 ± 0.27 1.40 ± 0.11 1.61 ± 0.09 1.71 ± 0.25 1.62 ± 0.21 1.57 ± 0.11
Globulins (g/dl) 2.40 ± 0.63 2.50 ± 0.17 2.53 ± 0.36 2.07 ± 0.37 2.64 ± 0.37 2.60 ± 0.37
Total-C (mg/dl) 65.35 ± 8.75c 87.08 ± 10.07a 74.42 ± 10.34bc 85.05 ± 14.72ab 86.94 ± 12.18a 71.57 ± 10.33bc
TAG (mg/dl) 152.17 ± 20.41c 246.07 ± 44.45a 230.77 ± 49.96ab 213.49 ± 24.01ab 194.16 ± 45.80bc 204.93 ± 29.71ab
HDL-C (mg/dl) 61.54 ± 9.99bc 56.31 ± 4.67c 66.56 ± 7.44ab 73.14 ± 5.73a 68.55 ± 6.07ab 68.12 ± 7.00ab
Creatinin (mg/dl) 1.24 ± 0.29 1.40 ± 0.38 1.24 ± 0.29 1.19 ± 0.25 1.32 ± 0.21 1.33 ± 0.17
Urea (mg/dl) 19.34 ± 0.64 19.76 ± 0.79 19.47 ± 1.11 19.38 ± 1.69 18.45 ± 1.24 19.35 ± 0.43
ALT (UI) 23.77 ± 5.02b 38.54 ± 5.61a 37.63 ± 7.73a 30.92 ± 5.04a 34.13 ± 5.11a 36.17 ± 6.16a
AST (UI) 101.50 ± 13.95ab 108.35 ± 29.29a 79.77 ± 14.31b 87.06 ± 14.79ab 91.29 ± 11.12ab 95.96 ± 21.11ab
T0: uninfected and untreated, T+: infected and treated with Oxytetracycline; T-: infected and untreated; T1: Extract 9 mg/kg, T2:
Extract 18 mg/kg, T3: Extract 37 mg/kg. TAG: triglycerides; Total-C: Total cholesterol; HDL-C: HDL Cholesterol. ALT: alanine
aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase. The table values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. In the same row,
the values bearing the different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05).

Table 3 Effect of treatment of ethanolic extract from Z. scabra on tissue protein levels..
Treatments
Tissue protein
T0 T- T+ T1 (9 mg/kg) T2 (18 mg/kg) T3 (37 mg/kg)
Ovarian (g/dl) 3.44 ± 0.76a 2.50 ± 0.13b 2.68 ± 0.61b 2.80 ± 0.44b 2.94 ± 0.36b 2.79 ± 0.33b
Hepatic (g/dl) 3.73 ± 0.56ab 3.21 ± 0.23b 4.12 ± 0.57a 3.92 ± 0.56a 3.83 ± 0.17ab 4.33 ± 0.82a
bc c ab ab ab
Renal (g/dl) 2.42 ± 0.35 2.23 ± 0.30 2.69 ± 0.34 2.61 ± 0.67 2.81 ± 0.32 3.00 ± 0.22a
Cardiac (g/dl) 2.96 ± 0.62a 2.02 ± 0.41b 2.20 ± 0.31b 2.30 ± 0.32b 2.06 ± 0.41b 2.21 ± 0.46b
T0: uninfected and untreated, T+: infected and treated with Oxytetracycline; T-: infected and untreated; T1: Extract 9 mg/kg, T2:
Extract 18 mg/kg, T3: Extract 37 mg/kg. The table values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. In the same row, the values
bearing the different letters are significantly different (p < 0 .05).

properties including antibacterial properties [22, 23].

4. Discussion
The results of this work revealed that the
administration of Z. scabra ethanolic extract inhibited
the growth of S. Enteritidis. The decrease of bacterial
load of infected animals after two days may be due to
the joint action of extract and immune system,
because the bacterial load of negative control group
also decreased slightly [21]. Quails treated with a dose
of 37 mg/kg bw of extract recovered at the same
period as those treated with oxytetracyclin. The results
thus showed that this plant possess compounds
endowed with antibacterial activity. In fact, Z. scabra
leaf was reported to possess phenols, flavonoids,
anthocyanin, triterpenes, tannins and saponins, which
were already shown to have several pharmacological
The detection of these classes of secondary
metabolites could explain the observed activity of this
extract [24].
The increase in white blood cells count was
observed in infected but untreated animals (negative
control T-). This increase in white blood cells counts
is probably due to the immune system reaction in
response to the infection [25]. Indeed, it is known that
the role of white blood cells (leukocytes) is to protect
and defend the body against bacteria, foreign bodies,
viruses, parasites and tumoral cells [26]. Infections
with these pathogens are followed by the stimulation
of the immune system leading to an increase in
leukocyte counts. The lower level in treated animals
during the entire experiment could be attributed to the
 Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with
Salmonella Enteritidis
antimicrobial effects of saponins and anthocyanin
present in the plant [27].
The decrease in haemoglobin level (sign of anaemia)
observed in the negative control could be due to a
decrease in the erythropoietin (EPO) production as the
result of renal dysfunction. Indeed, EPO synthesized
by the kidney stimulates haematopoiesis by giving the
bone marrow signals to increase its production of red
blood cells [28]. When the kidneys are not working
effectively, they do not produce enough EPO and the
bone marrow does not receive the signal to produce
red blood cells resulting in a deficit [29]. The
normalization of the red blood cell counts after
administration of different extract doses may be due to
the ability of this extract to correct the damage caused
by infection in the kidneys. In fact, determination of
sera creatinine and urea concentration revealed that
renal dysfunction due to infection was corrected by
different extract doses. The proteins content of the
kidney and liver of animals treated with 18 mg/bw
were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in negative
control (T-), but comparable with neutral control (T0),
suggesting that with this dose, the extract might have
both hepatoprotective and kidney protective effect.
The results of the biochemical parameters
evaluation showed an increased ALT transaminases
activity and the decrease in tissue and serum protein
level. The increase in transaminases in the negative
control could be due to the liver cells lysis caused by
infection, resulting in the release of transaminases into
the bloodstream [30, 31]. The bacterial infections can
result in hepatobiliary alterations via a toxin secreted
by the infectious agent [32]. Decreased total protein
levels in the negative control group would further
explain the deleterious effects of infection in the liver
[33]. The same observations showed that infection by
Salmonella typhimurium in rats is responsible for an
increase in serum transaminases levels and a decrease
in total protein [34]. The resulting liver damage can be
clinically manifested by an increase in serum
transaminases [35]. Moreover, the treatment at
393
different doses of the extract caused a decrease in
transaminases levels. This could be attributed not only
to the reduction of the bacterial load in the biological
medium, but also to the ability of these extracts to
correct pre-existing cellular damage in treated animals.
Indeed, plant extracts owe their antibacterial activity
to the secondary metabolites they contain [23]. These
secondary metabolites (flavonoids) are also known for
their healing and hepatoprotective effects [36].
In this study, the infection of negative group (T-)
resulted in a slight increase in serum creatinine and
urea levels compared to neutral control. These same
effects were reported with an increase in serum
creatinine levels [37]. This increase is thought to be
due to kidney dysfunction caused by the infection that
would have disrupted the glomerular filtration rate.
Indeed, malfunction of the kidney causes a rise above
the normal threshold of urea in the serum [38]. This
dysfunction has been confirmed by a high level of
creatinine which is an indicator of the deterioration of
renal function, which would have normally regulated
the creatinine concentration in blood [39]. Inverse
effects were observed in groups that received the test
doses, indicating that the extract would have corrected
the adverse effects caused by the infection.
The exploration of the lipid profile shows that the
infection (T-) caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase
of all lipid parameters (triglycerides, total cholesterol).
This hyperlipidemia may be due to the damage caused
by the infection at the kidney level. Indeed, in renal
failure, the most common dyslipidemia is
hypertriglyceridemia [40]. This hypertriglyceridemia
may be associated to an increase in triglyceride levels
and a decrease in cholesterol levels, especially in high
density lipoproteins (HDL). There may also be an
increase in triglyceride levels in very low density
lipoproteins (VLDL) and in intermediate density
lipoproteins (IDL) [41]. These results showed that the
level of HDL in the negative control is low compared
to the neutral control. This decrease might be related
to non-accumulation of triglycerides. Indeed,
394 Antibacterial Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Zehneria scabra on Quails Artificially Infected with
Salmonella Enteritidis
triglycerides are hydrolysed in the bloodstream and
their fatty acids are transported in peripheral cells [42].
The lack of “good” cholesterol (HDL) is a major risk
factor for cardiovascular disease [38]. The treatment at
different doses of extract resulted in a significant
increase in the HDL level correcting the effects
initially observed.
5. Conclusions
This study shows that Z. scabra extract can cure
salmonellosis due to S. Enteritidis after 9-13 days of
treatment in Salmonella-infected quails. However, the
biochemical analysis revealed that at the highest dose
(37 mg/kg bw), this extract can induce kidney damage.
Quails treated with a dose of 18 mg/kg BW of extract
recovered at the same period as those treated with
oxytetracyclin and did not show liver and kidney
damage. This suggests that the Z. scabra extract is as
effective as the reference drug used and can be safely
used for the treatment of Salmonella Enteritidis
infection. The recommended treatment dose for this
plant extract is 18 mg/kg bw.
Acknowledgment
We would like to express our gratitude to Dr
Nzouankeu Ariane, Pasteur Center, Yaounde,
Cameroon for providing the test bacterium.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no competing
interests.
Author Contribution
HMFB, MKK and AT designed the study. HMFB,
VY and BK performed the lab analysis of samples.
HMFB and MKK analysed the data and wrote the
manuscript. AT supervised the work. All authors have
read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant
from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or
not-for-profit sectors.
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