Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Ethanol Extract of Garcinia Kola (Seed)

Abstract

Garcina kola is a medicinal tree belonging to the family Guttiferae. Several studies have reported the pharmacological uses of the seed in treating cough, throat infections, bronchitis, hepatitis, and liver disorders. in this study, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the ethanol extract of Garcinia kola (seed) were determined using agar well diffusion method against some selected pathogenic microorganisms (Salmonella typhmuriumi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars, steroids, terpenes, tannins, flavonoids, and phenols. The extract at concentrations of 100 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml and 300 mg/ml gave the following zones of inhibitions; S. typhi (18, 22.50, 28mm), P. aeruginosa (14.50,16, 22 mm), and E. coli (25, 29, 35mm) respectively. the result showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between the extract and the standard control (ampiclox) used. However, the extract at the above concentrations showed no inhibitory activity on the fungal isolates used. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract at a serial dilutions of 40mg/ml, 8mg/ml, 1.6mg/ml, 0.32mg/ml, 0.064mg/ml, 0.0128mg/ml, and 0.00256mg/ml, showed E. coli been the most sensitive at a concentration of 0.0128mg/ml compared to the other test micro-organisms. The effectiveness of the extract on the bacterial isolates holds a promising potential as antibacterial agent if well exploited.