Curative Potential of Gbogbonise Epa Ijebu Herbal Remedy in Male Wistar Rats Infected with Salmonella typhi

ABSTRACT Commercially sold herbal remedies are fast gaining recognition among the Nigerian populace for the treatment of various ailments. The aim of this study was to assess the curative potential of _Gbogbonise Epa Ijebu_ herbal remedy in male Wistar rats infected with _Salmonella typhi_. A total of 60 male Wistar rats weighing 150+50g (mean+SD) were randomly assigned into 10 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were infected with one (1) ml of _Salmonella typhi _suspension with a concentration of 106 CFU/mL in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), except Group 4, 5 and 6 which served as the Zero control, undiluted herbal control and diluted herbal control, respectively. Group 7 and were 8 were treated with 500mg/Kg/bid and 250mg/kg/bid herbal remedy, respectively, while group 9 and 10 were treated with equal volume of Ciprofloxacin and herbal remedy, 500mg/kg/bid and 250mg/kg/bid, respectively, orally twice daily for 7days. Bacterial loads in rectal swab, intestine and gall bladder, as well as the anti-_Salmonella typhi _O and H serum antibodies of the test and control rats were evaluated at Pre-infection, Post-infection and Post-treatment phases using standard microbiological and serological methods. The outcome of this study shows that the administration of the herbal remedy (500mg/Kg/bid) resulted in a significant reduction (_P<0.001_) in the rectal (1.8±04 Log CFU/mL), intestinal (4.25±0.05 Log CFU/Intestine) and gall-bladder (1.85±0.25 Log CFU/Gall-Bladder) bacterial load, as well as the anti-_Salmonella typhi _O (93.3±22.3) and H (93.3±22.3) serum antibodies level of the test groups compared to the infection control (3.8±0.20 Log CFU/mL, 8.3±0.10 Log CFU/Intestine, 4.3±0.06 Log CFU/Gall-Bladder and 173.3±32.1, respectively). The outcome of this study further underscores the curative potential of the herbal remedy as claimed by the manufacturers and vendors. _KEYWORDS: Gbogbonise Epa Ijebu, Salmonella typhi, Bacterial load, _Anti-Salmonella antibodies, Rats