Antimicrobial activity of “Dutsen Dan Libya”

Abstract

Dutsen dan Libya is a rock material used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a myriad of ailments like cold, fever, stomach disorder, diarrhea and Jaundice. To evaluate the scientific basis for the use of the rock, the antimicrobial activities of its water extract was studied against some common gram positive and gram negative bacteria and fungi. The antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract was evaluated by determination of the diameter of zone of inhibition using the paper disk diffusion method. Results showed sensitivity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium ulcerans, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia Coli and Neisseria gonorhoea were resistant. Studies on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the rock-extract solution on the test organisms showed the lowest MIC at the dose level of 1.25mg/ml and MBC at the dose level of 2.50mg/ml respectively against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes. The highest MIC (2.5 mg/ml) and MBC (5.00mg/ml) were exhibited against staphylococcus aureus, corynebacterium ulcerans, klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans.