African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (23), pp. 2405-2407, 4 December 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of saponins extract of Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench

Soetan k. O.¹*, Oyekunle M. A.², Aiyelaagbe O. O.³ and Fafunso M. A.⁴

¹Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,

²Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

³Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

⁴Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

*Corresponding authors E-mail soetangboye@yahoo.com.

Accepted 27 June, 2006

The n-butanol purified saponin extract of sorghum bicolor were screened for anti-bacterial activity against three pathogenic microbes; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The extract inhibited the growth of the S. aureus. It was concluded that the saponins have inhibitory effect on gram-positive organism but not on gram negative organism and the fungi.

Key words: Sorghum bicolor, saponins, antimicrobial activity.