ABSTRACT:
Diarhoeal diseases till date remain a global health concern necessitating the discovery of new agents widh novel mechanisms that are cheap and readily available. Psidium guajava (guava) leaf is traditionally known for its antidianhoel activity across the globe. The objective of the present study was to demonstrate its efficacy using appropriate in vitro and vive assays. The methods used were: 1. in Microbicidal activity against diarnhoeal pathogens 2. Bacterial colonization to epithelial cells 3. Production and binding of enterotoxins - cholera toxin (CT), E coli heat labile and stable toxin (LT & ST) 4. Intracellular killing of ST producer 5.IL-8 secretion by epithelial cells following EPEC infection 6. Citrobacter rodentium mouse model The results obtained showed that guava had antigiardial and antirotaviral activity but limited bactericidal activity. Bacterial colonization was reduced and LTICT was inhibited. Intracellular killing of ST producing E. coli was observed. IL-8 secretion was also inhibited. In the mouse model, clearance of C. rodentium in guava fed group was faster than the control group. It can thus be concluded that despite limited microbicidal activity, guava can affect crucial pathogenic events and is active over a spectrum of dianhoeal pathogens permitting its use without identification of diarhocal actiology, Due to its diverse mechanism of action guava could act at multiple stages and possibly minimize drug resistance.