Antibacterial activity of extracts of Alchornea cordifolia (Schum and Thonn) Mull.Arg., Boerhavia diffusa (L) and Bridellia micranthaI (Hoscht) Baill. used in traditional medicine in Nigeria on Helicobacter pylori and four diarrhoeagenic bacterial pathoge

Abstract

Extracts of leaves of Alchornea cordifolia, Boerhavia diffusa and Bridellia micrantha were investigated for antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella flexneri and Enteroheamorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Results showed that the ethanolic extracts of the three plants and aqueous extracts inhibited the growth of all the organisms tested. However, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged between 15.6 and 31.25 mg/ml while the extracts were bacteriocidal at concentration ranging between 31.25 and 250 mg/ml. This indicates that leaf extracts of the three plants are of great potential in treating gastric ulcer and diarrhoea caused by the
aforementioned bacteria.