Zoochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Potential of Ground Beetle (Carabidae)

Insects and their substances have been used as medicinal resources by different cultures since ancient time because of chemical compounds such as pheromones, defensive sprays, venoms and toxins, which were sequestered from plants or prey and later concentrated or transformed for their own use. This study is aimed at determining zoochemical and antibacterial potential of ground beetle (Carabidae). The Clinical bacterial isolates used are Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Salmanylla typhi, Yersinia pestis and Escherichia coli. The results of zoochemical screening of methanol extract revealed the presence of carbohydrates, steroids/triterpenes, alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids, while antraquinones and cardiac glycosides were not detected. The results of antibacterial activity revealed that methanol extract showed higher antibacterial activity than n-hexane extract. The methanol extract showed following zone of inhibition on E. coli (23.33 ± 1.52), Y. pestis (13.66 ± 0.57), S. typhii (16.00 ± 1.00) and MRSA (9.67 ± 0.57) at 10 mg/mL, while that of n-hexane showed the following zones of inhibition against E. coli (11.33 ± 0.57), Y. pestis (11.66 ± 0.57), S. typhii (29.00 ± 5.29) and MRSA (12.67 ± 0.57) at 10 mg/L. The MIC result ranged between 0.63-1.25 mg/mL for n-hexane extract and 0.63 - 2.50 mg/mL for methanol extract. The MBC of n-hexane extract ranged between 1.25 - 2.50 mg/mL while that of methanol extract ranges between 0.63 -2.50 mg/ Ml. The results suggested the potential use of the extract in the treatment of bacterial infections such as diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever, and enuresis.