Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of <i>Commiphora africana</i>

Abstract

Commiphora africana has been used traditionally for generations in many parts of the world to treat a wide range of ailments. It has been reported to have bioactive compounds and has been recognized for its medicinal importance. The antimicrobial activity as well as the phytohemical screening of the aqueous, ethanol and petroleum ether crude extracts of Commiphora africana against clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Staphylocoocus aureus and Escherichia coli were evaluated using agar well diffusion method. The results obtained from the phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The crude leaf extracts at 400μg/ml, had high antifungal activity against Candida albicans (24mm), Epidermophyton floccosum (23mm) and Staphylocoocus aureus (18mm). Escherichia coli resisted to all the extracts except for petroleum ether where it showed 10mm zone of inhibition. Clotrimozole and Ciprofloxacin were used as positive control and were active against ame isolates at 25μg/ml with zones 30mm and 19mm respectively. In conclusion, the study revealed that the crude leaf extracts of Commiphora africana had antimicrobial activity and can serve as a potential source of natural bioactive compounds for the treatment of fungal infections.

Keywords: Commiphora africana, extracts, antimicrobial activity, phytochemicals, clinical
isolates, bacteria, fungi.