Abstract: Moringa oleifera Lam. is a multiuse tropical tree that is used for food, medicine. and several other purposes. Almost all the parts of this plant: root, bark, gum, leaf, fruit, flowers, seed and seed oil have been used for various ailments in indigenous medicine. Some part of the moringa plant is reported to possess a recombinant protein in it. The seed for instance is able to flocculate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria cells. The seed could also act directly on microorganism by being bacteriostatic. Moringa contains antimicrobial peptides that could disrupt the cell membrane or inhibit essential enzymes in microorganism. In this study, the active agents in the leaves and roots were extracted with both ethanol and water. The extracts were then tested for antibacterial activity using the agar well diffusion method. MIC was determined by the tube dilution technique and their activity determined. The phytochemical ethanol extract was found to contain Spirochin, Moriginine, Catechol Tannins, Steroids and Triterpenoids, Saponins, Anthraquinones, Alkaloids, Reducing sugars, Pterygospermin in different concentrations. The Aqueous extract yielded Spirochin, Moriginine, Saponins, Anthraquinones, Alkaloids, Reducing sugars, Pterygospermin. The Moringa oleifera stem and root extracts demonstrated a strong antimicrobial property against all the tested clinical isolates (Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans). The plant extract also showed antimicrobial activity against all the test organisms, with the zones of inhibition ranging from 5-28 mm in diameter at varying concentrations. The fungi (Candia albicans) was more susceptible to the extracts with a zone of inhibition of 28 mm and remarkably better than ciprofloxacin, the positive control with a zone of inhibition of 25 mm on the Candida albicans. In this study, the root extracts of Moringa oleifera had a better effectiveness than the stem while exhibiting high antimicrobial potential on both fungi and bacteria.
Keywords: Phytochemical Analysis, Antimicrobial Effects, Moringa Oleifera, Plant Extracts, Clinical isolates.
Title: Comparative Antimicrobial Effects of Ethanolic and Aqueous Extracts of the Stem and Root of Moringa oleifera on some Clinical Isolates (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans)
Author: Akpoka A. O., Erifeta G., Akinyeye A. J., Solanke E. O., Izevbuwa, O. E.
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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