ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ALOE VERA PLANT EXTRACT AGAINST SALMONELLA TYPHI

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Aloe vera plant against Salmonella typhi was investigated, using agar diffusion technique. The ethanolic extract had zones of inhibition ranging from 7mm – 14mm at concentration of 200mg/ml – 500mg/ml and the methanolic extract had zones of inhibition ranging from 6.8mm – 15mm at concentration of 200mg/ml – 500mg/ml. The different zones of inhibition recorded for the two extracts were statistically insignificant at (P<0.05). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts was 200mg/ml while the mean minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the two extracts was 250mg/ml. Phytochemical components of the Aloe vera plant extract include; anthraquinone, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, balsams and flavonoids. The result showed that Aloe vera has antibacterial activity on Salmonella typhi and may be use in the production of drugs against infection associated with the Salmonella typhi.