THE EFFECT OF GREEN TEA (Camelia sinensis) EXTRACT ON THE GROWTH OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM MASTITIS INFECTED LOCAL MILKING COWS

Abstract

Nationally, many dairy farms suffered from tremendous economic losses due to
mastitis. Laboratory investigation demonstrated that several bacteria, i.e., Staphylococcus  oureus. Staphylococcus  epidermidis, and Streptococcus  agalactiae were responsible for this disease. This research was to promote the uses of traditional medicinal herb as an alternative way to cure mastitis. Green tea (Camelia sinensis) was a well-known herb that had antibacterial effects. So, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of Green tea extracts on the
growth of isolates collected from Mastitis infected local milking cows. A 3 x 4 Factorial design was employed for this investigation. Three isolates of bacteria, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus agalactiae were used in in-vitro tests. Fifteen microliters each of four concentrations of Green tea extract, i.e., 7.50, 5.00, 2.50, and 1.25 % were dropped in sterile paper disks. The disks were then laid on the MEU blood agar media previously inoculated with each of the three isolates and were incubated overnight at 37 degree C. The test results demonstrated that the higher the concentration of the Green tea extracts, the higher the bacterial growth inhibition effects obtained. Further tests pointed out that the growth inhibition effects of the Green tea extracts on Staphylococcus oureus, Streptococcus agalactioe and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates were highly significantly different at P<.0001. Similar result was also found between the last two isolates. Therefore, the Green tea extracts were very effective in controlling the bacterial growth.