<i>In vitro</i> antibacterial activity of Anogeissus leiocarpus leaf extracts on some bacteria associated with diarrhea

Abstract

In vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaf of Anogeissus leiocarpus was tested on some bacteria associated with diarrhea which included Escherichia coli,Salmonella typhi,Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella aerogens and Yersinia enterocolitica using agar well diffusion method. There was marked degree of susceptibility to the extracts at 600 mg/ml and 300 mg/ml concentration by all the test organisms. E. coli and Y. enterocolitica were the most susceptible to the aqueous extract, while Y. enterocolitica was the most susceptible to the ethanol extract. In both cases, S. typimurium was relatively, the least susceptible. Generally, the ethanol extract showed higher antibacterial activity. Phyto-chemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, balsam, cardiac glycosides, terpenes and steroids. Saponin was absent in the aqueous extracts. Resin was absent in both the aqueous and ethanol extract.

IJONAS Vol. 3 (1) 2007: pp. 53-56