Antibacterial effects of
extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and piper guineense
on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus
Nwinyi, Obinna C.1*,
Chinedu, Nwodo S.1, Ajani, Olayinka O.2,
Ikpo Chinwe O2 and Ogunniran, Kehinde O.2
1Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and
Technology, Covenant University. KM 10 Idioroko Road,
Canaanland, PMB 1023 Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
2Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology,
Covenant University,
Km 10 Idiroko Road, PMB 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
nwinyiobinna@gmail.com.
Accepted 24 February, 2009 |
|
The upsurge in the prevalence of side effects of
many synthetic antimicrobial agents and incidence of
multidrug resistant bacteria has spurred scientists on the
research for plant based antimicrobial of therapeutic
potentials. Ocimum gratissimum and Piper guineense
present such potential of high medicinal value. These plants
are used in Nigeria traditionally as condiments and for
treatment of various ailments such as pyorrhea, dysentery
and bronchitis. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of O.
gratissimum and P. guineense leaves were screened
for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli
and Staphylococcus aureus. Both extracts were found
to exhibit selective inhibition against the isolates. The
diameter zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts were
between 2 + 0.01 – 10 + 0.10 mm. The minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined by the agar
diffusion method was between 10.00 and 2.50 mg/ml-1.
Ethanol extracts showed more inhibitory effect compared to
the aqueous extracts. Results obtained show that the
extracts of O. gratissimum and P. guineense
possess some level of antibacterial activities against E.
coli and S. aureus.
Key words:
Ocimum gratissimum, Piper guineense,
antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration
(MIC), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus. |
