Antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera against selected clinical pathogens.

Abstract

This study focus on the antibacterial potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts prepared using distilled water, ethanol, and chloroform against four clinically important bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella spp. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds, including, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids, with their presence varying based on the solvent used. Antibacterial activity of extract was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method on Muller Hinton Agar (MHA). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined through broth dilution and sub-culturing methods. The methanol extract exhibited highest antibacterial activity, showing a 20 mm zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC of 0.3 mg/ml and MBC of 1.25 mg/ml followed by aqueous and chloroform extracts with moderate activity.