Antimicrobial Potential of Leaf juice and Extracts of Moringa oleifera lam against some Human pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of ethanol, hot and cold water extracts of both fresh and dried leaves as well as the juice extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam. were obtained by standard disc diffusion methods against some human pathogenic bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The ethanol extracts of fresh leaves and dried leaves displayed a potential broad-spectrum activity against all the tested organisms, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also, cold water extracts of fresh and dried leaves as well as hot water extracts of fresh and dried leaves inhibited the growth of the tested organisms with the exception of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which were not inhibited by cold and hot water extract of fresh and dried leaves. The result of this study revealed that, the antibacterial activity of the extract could be enhanced if the components are purified. The plant therefore holds a promise as a potential source of new drugs for treating infections caused by these clinical pathogens.