International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 5, Issue 7, July 2015 1 ISSN 2250-3153 www.ijsrp.org Incidence and Susceptibility of Beta-Lactamase Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae to Extract from Phyllanthus niruri *Ajibade V. A, Oyebode, J. A. and Oyeyemi, B. F Department of Science Technology, Microbiology unit, Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B. 5351, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Abstract- Antibacterial resistance to common antibiotic has increased overtime; there is thus the need to look for an alternative medicine to stem the trend. This study reported incidence of β-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumonia from patients. The antibacterial activity of crude aqueous and ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus niruri was also investigated against some test bacteria. Antimicrobial activities were analyzed using agar diffusion method. Experiments were performed in triplicate and reported as mean ± standard error of mean and difference was analyzed using one way ANOVA at p≤0.05. Sixty five percent (65%) and 25% of urine a nd wound samples were positive to β-lactamase producing K. pneumonia respectively. The highest zone of inhibition (22.0mm) was observed in a concentration of 0.5g/mL from ethanolic extract against K. pneumonia. While the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of aqueous and ethanolic extract of the plant was evidenced in 0.2g/mL and 0.1g/mL respectively. From the foregoing this study has shown that P. niruri extract have potential to be remedy for infectious disease caused by β-lactamase producing K. pneumonia. Keywords- Antibacterial, β-lactamase, Phyllanthus niruri I. INTRODUCTION lants have always been a major component of traditional system of healing in developing countries, which have also been an integral part of their history and culture. Medical plants offer alternative remedies with tremendous opportunities. Many traditional healing herbs and plant parts have been shown to have a medical value especially in the rural areas and that these can be used to prevent and cure several human diseases. Even today, majority of the world population depend on herbal health care practices (Kunle et al., 2012; Narendra et al., 2012). Extracts of many plants are known to elicit certain reactions in human body when applied in a prescribed manner including Phyllanthus niruri L., (Syn.P. franternus Webster) belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. It has been claimed to be an excellent remedy for jaundice and hepatitis (Abbasi et al., 2009). It also has antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect as reported by Makoshi et al. (2013) The plant is considered analgesic, aperitif, digestive, emmanagogue, laxative and stomachic tonic (Khanna et al., 2002) and is helpful in treating oedema, anorexia and diabetes (George and Pamplona-Roger, 2002). Its roots, leaves, fruits, milky juice as well as the whole plant are used as medicine with no adverse effect on the body organs (Ajibade and Famurewa, 2013). Recently, lignansniranthin, nirtetralin and phyltetralin have been isolated from the leaves (Tabasum et al., 2005). To buttress these points a recent study by Ajibade. (2014) reported saponin and alkaloid extracted from P. niruri posses antimicrobial properties thus may offer an alternative therapeutic agent against bacterial infections. The strategic importance of reviving indigenous medical practice to provide safe and affordable primary health care to the people of the world is now recognized. During the last two decade or so WHO health assembly has passed a number of resolution in response to this resurgence of interest in the study and use of traditional medicine and in recognition of the importance of medical plant to health care of people in many developing countries (Kunle et al., 2012). P