POTENTIAL IN VITRO INHIBITORY EFFECT S OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF EXTRACTS ON EXTENDED SPECTRUM β LACTAMASE PRODUCING BACTERIA

Abstract

Extended spectrum β lactamase (ESβL) enzymes are produced by certain bacteria as a m ech anism of resi stance to β lactam and extended spectrum β lactam antibiotics. Previous investigations have confirmed that M. oleifera contains several bioactive compounds . This study aimed at evaluating the in vitro antibacterial effects of ethanolic and met hanolic leaf extracts of M. oleifera on extended spectrum β lactamase producing bacteria. The leaf ext racts of the plant w ere prepared, screened for bioactive compounds and evaluated for in vitro inhibitory effects against the ESβL producing bacteria us ing agar well diffusion method. Different phytochemical s were detected from the extracts Bot h methanolic and ethanolic leaf extracts showed a high inhibitory activity, which increased with an increase in concentration, from lowest to highest based on the zon es of growth inhibition produced. Amongst the test organisms, Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most sensitive isolate to methanolic extract at 200, 100, 50 and 25 mg/mL followed by Escherichia coli , and then Proteus mirabilis . However, in terms of the etha nol ic extract using the same concentrations as those of m ethanol extracts, E. coli was found to be the most sensitive isolate followed by K. pneumoniae and then P. mirabilis .