PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF MORINGAOLEIFERA EXTRACTS AGAINST SELECTED BACTERIA ISOLATES.

Abstract

The phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of Moringaoleifera plant were carried out to determine the efficacy of its parts against some selected bacterial isolates of medical importance. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of Moringaoleifera tested positive for alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and saponinsin the three plant parts of leaves, stem bark and root. Glycosides tested positive in the three plant parts of the extracts. The acetone extracts of Moringaoleifera tested positive for steroids, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides in the three plant parts. The acetone extracts of the leaf, stem bark and root of Moringaoleifera shows the highest antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiellasp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus isolates, followed by the methanolic extracts of the three plant parts. The aqueous extracts showed the least antibacterial activity against all the bacterial isolates. Acetone and methanolic extracts from the stem bark showed antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhii.The zones of inhibition for all the antibacterial activity in this study revealed 2.0mm as the minimum value and 22.0mm as the maximum value against all the bacterial isolates.The phytochemical constituents of the extracts from Moringaoleifera plant could be used to combat infections that might arise from the tested bacterial isolates.