JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY DISCOVERY
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7064
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JBBD
Start Year: 2016
Email: jbbd@integrityresjournals.org
Synergistic antibacterial effect of Adenodolichos paniculatus root bioactive fraction and cefotaxime against ESBL-producing enterobacteriaceae
https://doi.org/10.31248/JBBD2026.250 | Article Number: 6C2396872 | Vol.11 (1) - February 2026
Received Date: 19 January 2026 | Accepted Date: 20 February 2026 | Published Date: 28 February 2026
Authors: Kyahar, I. F.* and Aboh, I. M.
Keywords: phytochemicals., Anti-bacterial, Adenodolichos paniculatus, ESBL, root., bioactive fraction, cefotaxime, synergy.
The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae has reduced the clinical effectiveness of third-generation cephalosporins. This study investigated the synergistic antibacterial potential of the root bioactive component of Adenodolichos paniculatus combined with cefotaxime against ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The plant was extracted by maceration and screened for phytochemicals. The most active chloroform extract was fractionated by vacuum liquid chromatography and purified by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). Clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (n = 10), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 6), and Proteus mirabilis (n = 2) were tested following CLSI (2025) guidelines. ESBL production was confirmed by the cefotaxime–clavulanic acid combination disk method. Synergistic interactions were assessed using disk diffusion, checkerboard (minimum inhibitory concentration/fractional inhibitory concentration-MIC/FIC index), and time–kill assays. Phytochemical analysis revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, steroids, and saponins. Strong synergy was observed between the extract and cefotaxime, increasing inhibition zones from 10 to 18 mm (E. coli CI-3) and 9 to 17 mm (K. pneumoniae CI-6), with ≥16-fold MIC reductions and FIC indices of 0.25–0.375. Time–kill assays showed >2 log₁₀ (colony forming unit) CFU/mL reductions compared with single agents after 24 h. P. mirabilis (non-ESBL) also showed synergy, suggesting other mechanisms beyond β-lactamase inhibition. GC–MS analysis identified linoleic (50.98%), stearic (19.31%), palmitic (4.20%), and oleic acids (2.26%) as major constituents. The A. paniculatus root bioactive fraction significantly potentiated cefotaxime’s activity, likely via membrane permeability enhancement or enzyme inhibition, supporting its potential as a resistance-modifying agent against antimicrobial resistance.
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