Antimicrobial Properties of the Methanolic Extracts of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) on Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

The emerging trends of multidrug resistance among several groups of microorganisms against different classes of antibiotics led different researchers to develop efficient drugs from various plant sources to counter multidrug resistant strains. This study investigated different solvent extracts of Zingiber officinale, to determine their efficacy against multidrug resistant microbes. The antimicrobial properties of various extract of Zingiber officinale (ginger) against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae that are common causes of gastrointestinal tract infection were investigated using the Agar and tube diffusion method. The results obtained revealed that Methanolic extract of ginger gave the widest zone of inhibition against one out of the two test organisms at the concentration of 20 mg mL -1 . However, Klebsiella pneumonia was more sensitive to the extract. It was also observed that the solvent of extraction and its varying concentrations affected the sensitivity of the two test organisms to the plant extract showing that ginger has antimicrobial activities on the test organisms due to its inhibitory effect, thus confirming its use in folk medicine.