Theses and Dissertation

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Browsing Theses and Dissertation by Author "Ilunde, Josephat"

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    Investigation Of The Efficiency Of Sleepy Morning Plant (Waltheria Indica L.) As An Anti-Bacterial Agent From Shallow Wells Water In Tanzania
    (NM-AIST, 2025-04) Ilunde, Josephat
    Waterborne-related diseases, such as diarrhoea, schistosomiasis, typhoid, and intestinal worm infections, are very common and widespread in the Misungwi District, Tanzania. These waterborne diseases, can be linked with water consumption from shallow wells contaminated with Escherichia coli and Total coliforms. The District Medical Officer reported 38 735 hospital admissions due to diseases from 2020 to 2023. This study investigated the efficacy of Waltheria indica in three forms as a bacteria killing agent from shallow wells in water in the Misungwi District, rural Tanzania. First, the physicochemical and bacteriological parameters from shallow well water were investigated. Second, the efficiency of the Waltheria indica root part as bacteria killing agent was evaluated, and lastly, the phytochemical compounds in the W. indica root parts were investigated. Water samples were collected from 27 shallow wells in nine wards in the study area for physicochemical and bacteriological parameters investigation. Laboratory experiments were conducted using dried W. indica roots in powdered, soaked and boiled forms to evaluate the efficacy of this plant in eliminating E. coli and Total coliforms at varying concentrations and contact times. The study highlighted that the physicochemical parameters pH, EC, TDS and Temperature from shallow wells water were within WHO and TBS standards except turbidity showed high (103.43±34.11 NTU) exceeding the permissible limit. Similarly, E. coli and Total coliformnumbers were high in all tested shallow wells with colonies ranging from 100 ±58 CFU/100 mL to 3400±58 CFU/100 mL and 8567±2117 CFU/100 mL to 22333±5840 CFU/100 mL respectively, exceeding the WHO and TBS standards. Therefore, the results verify that the water of the shallow well in the Misungwi District is contaminated with bacteria and not safe for consumption without treatment. Also, the results demonstrated that W. indica significantly reduced E. coli and Total coliforms, achieving a 100% from water in 12 hours using the concentration of 0.5 g/L and 100 ml/L of powder and soaked extracts at room temperature and incubation at 37oC and 44oC. However, only 100 ml/L of boiled method eliminated Total coliforms to zero at 12 hours. The identified phytochemical compounds in W. indica roots which could be involved with antibacterial properties includes vanillin, Phenols, Neophytadiene, 2,2-Dihydroxychalcone, Squalene, Hexadecanamide, Lupeol, and 9-Octadecanamide (Z). Therefore, the W. indica roots showed promising agent in eliminating bacteria in water and can be recommended for development of sustainable bacteria removal agent from shallow wells water.