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The antibacterial
potentials of Nauclea latifolia
Okwori, A. E. J.1*, Okeke, C. I.1,
Uzoechina, A.1, Etukudoh, N. S.2,
Amali, M. N.3, Adetunji, J. A.4 and
Olabode, A. O.1
1Department
of Medical Microbiology, Federal College of Veterinary and
Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Nigeria.
2Federal
School of Medical Laboratory Technology, (JUTH), Jos,
Nigeria.
3Department
of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State
University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
4Department
of Chemical Pathology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
Okwori2001@yahoo.com.
Tel: 234 80 37 00 11 72. Fax: 234 73 280271.
Accepted 12 March, 2008 |
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Herbal medicine is readily
available in diverse African vegetation with the potentials
of introducing new templates into medicine worldwide.
Evaluating plants from the traditional African system of
medicine provides us with clues on how these plants can be
used in the treatment of diseases. In vitro effect of
Nauclea latifolia extract in hot water, cold water,
petroleum ether and chloroform at concentrations of 200,
150, 100, 50% were tested on some pathogenic bacteria such
as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli,
Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Using agar diffusion punch hole method, both the aqueous and
alcoholic extracts of the leaves and roots showed
appreciable inhibitory effect when compared to the positive
control on S. aureus and P. aeruginosa while
S. typhi and E. coli were resistant to the
extracts. Using serial doubling dilution, the minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The minimum
bacteria concentration was determined by plating various
dilutions of the extracts without turbidity. Aqueous and
alcoholic extracts of N. latifolia showed inhibitory
and bactericidal activity on the test organisms. The
alcoholic extracts showed larger zone of inhibition on the
test organisms. The alcohol leaf extracts showed a higher
percentage of growth inhibition when compared to the
positive control. The MIC ranges from 6.25 – 150 mg/ml on
S. aureus and 12.5 – 150 mg/ml for P. aeruginosa.
The MBC ranges from 100 – 150 mg/ml. The phytochemical
analysis revealed the presence of saponin, resins,
alkaloids, and carbohydrate.
Key words:
Antimicrobial potentials, Nauclea latifolia,
bacterial pathogens, Nigeria. |
