The in vitro antibacterial activity of muntingia calabura extracts

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate on the possible antibacterial activity of aqueous (AEMC), methanol (MEMC) and chloroform (CEMC) extracts of Muntingia calabura using the in vitro disc diffusion methods. The sterilized blank discs (6 mm diameter) was impregnated with 20 μL of the respective extract (in the concentration of 10,000, 40,000, 70,000 and 100,000 ppm) and tested against Corneybacterium diphtheria, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Bacillus cereus, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Kosuria rhizophila, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli (O 157), Aeromonas hydrophila and Salmonella typhi. At all concentrations tested, the AEMC was effective against S. aureus and K rhizophila while the MEMC was effective against S.. flexneri, B. cereus, S. aureus, P. vulgaris, A. hydrophila, K. rhizophila. This activity was not observed with the CEMC. At the concentration of 40000 ppm and above, the AEMC exhibited significant antibacterial activity against C dihptheriae, P. vulgaris, S. epidermidis and A. hydrophila; the MEMC was effective against C. diphtheriae and L. monocytogenes; and the CEMC was effective against S. aureus. Finally, we concluded that M. calabura possesses a potential antibacterial property that is comparable to the standard antibiotics used. The results also suggest the presence of more potent polar antibacterial compound. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.