African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (7), pp. 682-684, July 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum on selected diarrhoea causing bacteria in southwestern Nigeria

T. T. Adebolu* and Salau Abiola Oladimeji

¹Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

²Drug Research Unit, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author E-Mail: ttadebolu01@yahoo.com.

Accepted March, 2005

The antibacterial activity of different extracts from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Salmonella typhimurium, pathogenic bacteria that cause diarrhea. These extracts evaluated include cold water extract (CWE), hot water extract (HWE) and steam distillation extract (SDE). Only SDE has inhibitory effects on the selected bacteria and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.1% for S. aureus to 0.01% for E. coli and S. typhimurium, and 0.001% for S. typhi.

Key words: Antibacterial activity, Ocimum gratissimum, diarrhea.