ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF BRYOPHYLLUM PINNATUM LEAVES EXTRACT AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Pathogenic microorganisms cause several infections of great public concern. These pathogens from many studies were found to be resistant to many antibiotics. Thus, there is the need for new antimicrobial agents of plant origin to overcome the problem of resistance. The aim of this study was to screen the antibacterial activity of aqueous leave extract of Bryophyllum pinnatun. The aqueous leave extract of the B. pinnatun prepared by percolation method was investigated for phytochemical constituents and activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using agar well diffusion method. The phytochemicals detected in the extract include saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids. The extract was found to be active on both the organisms with zone of inhibition ranging from 8-19mm for S. aureus and 7-16mm for E. coli. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were found to be higher at 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml, respectively. This study shows that leaf extract of B. pinnatum have antibacterial properties, and effective on both Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, this result supports the traditional use of the B. pinnatum leaves in infection treatment.