Evaluation of anti-bacterial properties of ethanol extract of Ficus exasperata leaf

Abstract

This study evaluated the antibacterial effect of ethanolic extract of Ficus exasperate leaf. Clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphyllococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were incubated in agar plates after serial dilutions of the extract were added in wells made in the agar and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. Thereafter, zones of inhibition (in mm) around the wells were measured. The same organisms were tested for sensitivity against standard antibiotics using disk diffusion. The extract demonstrated significant antibacterial activity. It was concluded that the extract had significant antibacterial activity against test organisms with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 250 µg/ml. Its use for treatment of infections by traditional healers is justified.

Evaluation of antibacterial activities of euphorbia heterophylla

“…Odunbaku et al had earlier found the MIC of this extract against E.coli to be 300mg/ml [7] . This high MIC (low activity) could be due to differences in geographical location, season of plant, age of the plant, and method of extraction, all of which affect the yield and the active constituents of medicinal plants [8], [9] .It could also be due to differences in laboratory procedures and reagents used [10], [11] .The MICs observed in this study were also lower than those of another medicinal plant, Ficusexasperatawhose MIC was 100mg/ml against K.pneumoniae and 25mg/ml against E.coli, S.aureus, and Ps.aeruginosa [4] . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (the lowest concentration of drug which inhibits growth) are used by diagnostic laboratories to determine in vitro activity or resistance to both old and new antimicrobial agents [12] .…”

“…Screenings of medicinal plants for antimicrobial activities are important for finding potential new compounds for therapeutic use.Medicinal plants readily provide sources of such novel agents. Herbs known to have antibacterial properties includeAcacia arabica, Nymphaea lotus, Sphareranthushirtus, Emblicaofficinalis, Cinchoriumintybus, Cardusmarianum, and Ficusexasperata [3], [4] .However, most of the antimicrobial studies on this plant were done using the ethanol extract. Even in traditional medical practice most of these plants are usually soaked in local gin to extract the active constituents.…”

Antibacterial Effects of Newbouldia laevis {P. BEAUV} on the Bacteria Isolated from the Blood of Hepatitis C Virus Positive Individuals

“…The basic qualitative measures of the in vitro activity of antimicrobials are the minimum inhibitory concentrations {MIC} or minimum bacterial concentration {MBC} [35]. The minimum inhibitory concentration {MIC} is the least concentration of an antimicrobial that shows no growth of microbial isolates in broth or agar.…”