Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxic effects of fruit and leaf ethanolic extracts
of Ecaballium elateruim on clinical and reference strains of E. coli (E. coli ATCC 25922).
Methodology: The genotoxic effects of fruit and leaf ethanolic extracts were determined by using
enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC-PCR) and sodium dodecyl sulfate
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).
Results: The results showed an alteration in DNA and protein profiles of both tested Escherichia
coli strains treated with fruit and leaf extracts compared with untreated control. The alterations
ranged between decreased or increased intensity of some bands, absence or appearance of new
amplified fragments. Moreover, increased concentrations of E. elaterium extracts and increased
time intervals seems to yield a more profound increase in total protein concentrations in both tested
E. coli strains.