Antimicrobial Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Zobo Sold in Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State Against Various Pathohens

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has necessitated the search for alternative antimicrobial agents. Natural products, particularly those derived from fermented foods and beverages, have gained attention for their potential antimicrobial properties. Despite the growing interest in natural antimicrobial agents from fermented foods, there is a paucity of research on the antimicrobial properties of Lactobacillus species isolated from zobo, a traditional beverage. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial properties of Lactobacillus species isolated from zobo and to evaluate their potential as natural antimicrobial agents. Lactobacillus species were isolated from zobo samples and identified using biochemical tests and Analytical Profile Index (API). The antimicrobial properties of the isolated Lactobacillus species were evaluated against selected pathogens (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) using the agar well diffusion method. The pathogens were screened for their susceptibility to antibiotics including Augmentin, Streptomycin, Ciprofloxacin, Pefloxacin, Gentamicin, Amoxicillin, and Erythromycin. The results showed that the three isolated Lactobacillus species, identified using the Analytical Profile Index (API) as Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus plantarum, exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against the selected pathogens, with E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa having zones of growth inhibition ranging from 17-25 mm, 20-22 mm, 17-26 mm and 0-12 mm respectively. The findings of this study suggest that Lactobacillus species isolated from zobo could be a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents, providing a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics.