EFFECT OF CAMELLIA SINENSIS EXTRACTS ON GROWTH OF VIRULENT GRAM NEGATIVE UROPATHOGENS

Urinary tract infections causing bacteria play an important role in expression and spread of drug resistance among bacteria in the hospitals and in community. Because of rapid increase in antibiotic resistance, alternative antimicrobial agents are needed to be developed and employed to control multi-drug resistant bacteria. The present study focuses on antibacterial activity of Green and Black tea (Camellia sinensis) extracts against the virulent uropathogens. Twelve bacterial isolates from urinary tract infections were studied for their ability to produce virulence phenotypes like hemolysin, biofilms, gelatinases, hydrophobic nature and penicillinases. Antibacterial susceptibility testing was done. Out of the total isolates tested 67% of E.coli and 60% of Klebsiella spp were multi drug resistant Penicillinase production as tested by filter paper iodometric method and biofilm production on Congo red plates were the virulence features exhibited by maximum number of E.coli and Klebsiella Spp. Among the aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts tested for antibacterial activity, methanol extracts showed maximum dimeter of zone of inhibition. Minimum inhibitory concentration for ethanol and aqueous extracts was 0.8mg /ml whereas that for methanol extracts was 0.4 mg/ml with both Green and black tea crude extracts.